Palatine Acquires Majority Stake in Skills Alliance

City & Guilds Acquires Trade Skills 4U from Palatine

November 3, 2022

Education

City & Guilds has bought Trade Skills 4U, a UK provider of electrician training and adult vocational courses, from Palatine’s Impact Fund. The acquisition transfers ownership of the business to City & Guilds to scale its electrical training provision and extend its impact on skills and apprenticeships in the UK.

Palatine (Impact Fund II) Acquires Majority Stake in Isle Utilities from XPV Water Partners

February 9, 2024

Environmental Services

Palatine’s Impact Fund II has acquired a majority share in Isle Utilities from XPV Water Partners. Isle Utilities, a London‑headquartered innovation consultancy focused on water and environmental technology commercialization with operations in 10 countries and over 100 staff, will remain led by CEO Dr Benjamin Tam with founder Dr Piers Clark staying on the board as a shareholder; Palatine says it will back the company’s next phase of growth.

Palatine Impact Backs Inclusive Employers

October 12, 2022

Staffing & HR

Palatine’s Impact Fund II has made its first investment by taking a significant stake in Inclusive Employers, the UK membership organisation focused on workplace inclusion. The investment will fund scaling of membership, business development and team expansion; founder Richard McKenna will be exiting and a new chair (John Zafar) will join the board.

Palatine Takes Minority Stake in BK Plus

September 28, 2023

Accounting & Tax

Palatine has acquired a significant minority shareholding in Midlands-headquartered accountancy firm BK Plus to support the firm's buy-and-build expansion. BK Plus, founded in 2021, has completed 12 acquisitions, operates more than 10 offices and employs approaching 300 staff; Palatine will back further national growth and value enhancement initiatives.

Palatine Acquires Majority Stake in FourNet

October 6, 2021

IT Services

Palatine has acquired a majority stake in FourNet, a Manchester‑headquartered digital transformation and customer experience specialist. The deal sees previous investor YFM Equity Partners and two founding shareholders (Frank Jennings and Mike Jervis) realise their holdings while Palatine will support FourNet's growth, focusing on expanding capabilities and public‑sector market penetration.

IK Investment Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Skill & You

February 4, 2021

Education

IK Investment Partners (IK IX Fund) has entered into an exclusivity agreement to acquire the majority stake in French vocational e-learning provider Skill & You from Andera Partners. Management (led by Eric Petco and Sonia Levy-Odier) will co-invest alongside IK to support accelerated international expansion, strengthen B2G/B2B capabilities and continue product and platform investment; Skill & You reported ~€115m revenue in 2020, ~120,000 students and ~850 employees.