Franchise Group Acquires Sylvan Learning for $81 Million

Unleashed Brands Acquires Sylvan Learning

August 1, 2024

Education

Unleashed Brands has acquired Sylvan Learning, adding the leading tutoring and K‑12 enrichment franchise to its portfolio of youth-focused brands. The acquisition strengthens Unleashed Brands' Learn pillar and expands its franchise footprint and program offerings across tutoring, STEM and test-prep services.

Carnegie Learning Acquires Scientific Learning Corporation

September 14, 2020

Education

An affiliate of Carnegie Learning acquired Scientific Learning Corporation in an all-cash merger valued at approximately $15 million. The acquisition makes Scientific Learning a privately owned subsidiary of Carnegie Learning and is intended to strengthen Carnegie Learning's digital literacy and neuroscience-based literacy product offerings for K-12, clinicians and direct-to-consumer channels.

KKR-Led Investor Group Makes Follow-on Investment in Sylvan

January 22, 2026

Biotechnology

KKR has completed an additional investment in Sylvan, a global mushroom spawn and fungal biotechnology company, with participation from TPG NewQuest, Ping'An Capital, China Post Insurance, Schroders Capital, Tsao Pao Chee and a follow-on from Novo Holdings. The funding will support Sylvan’s expansion—increasing production capacity, strengthening R&D, developing new product categories and deeper growth across Asian markets—while KKR remains the company’s majority investor.

E-3 Tech Acquires Sylvan Inc.

March 18, 2025

Industrial Services

E-3 Tech, LLC has acquired Sylvan Inc., a North American multi-trade construction and MEP services provider, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Blue Point Capital Partners and Sylvan management. Blue Point Capital, the exiting sponsor, rolled a portion of its equity into the deal; the partnership positions Sylvan to scale via built‑tech enablement and a programmatic M&A strategy.

IXL Learning Acquires Wyzant Tutoring Marketplace

February 4, 2021

Education

IXL Learning has agreed to acquire Wyzant, the Chicago-based online tutoring marketplace, in a deal expected to close in Q1 2021. The acquisition brings Wyzant’s network of tens of thousands of tutors into IXL’s K–12 personalized learning platform to expand one-on-one mentoring and broader learning capabilities; Lazard served as exclusive financial advisor to Wyzant.

Roark Capital Acquires Mathnasium

November 16, 2021

Education

Roark Capital, an Atlanta-based private equity firm focused on franchised and multi-location businesses, has acquired Mathnasium, a leading franchisor and operator of math learning centers. Mathnasium operates over 1,000 locations across 46 U.S. states and 12 countries; Roark intends to expand the brand’s reach and support franchisee growth globally.