Pandemic-driven financial struggles have led to forecasts that several English institutions could seek investment from, or sales to, foreign counterparts and private equity firms, with India’s Amity University confirming it is “very open to discussions” on a “takeover”.
The sale of a traditional English university, in whole or part, would create a huge shock in a sector dominated by charitable institutions, where 바카라사이트 handful of for-profit universities are still newcomers.
But 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 Covid crisis – in particular on overseas student income – means that a number of English providers could look to radical options on financing, experts suggested.
The attraction for foreign investors or buyers is seen as lying in obtaining 바카라사이트 brand prestige of a UK university, and of UK degree-awarding powers, with a view to leveraging that overseas.
Atul Chauhan, chancellor of Amity, which has around 125,000 students spread across multiple campuses in India, plus a London campus, told?온라인 바카라?that it was “very open to discussing…a takeover” with universities.
He added: “Due to confidentiality reasons I am not able to share details of any ongoing discussions.”
Amity is owned by 바카라사이트 non-profit foundation of 바카라사이트 AKC Group of Companies, which operates petrochemical, technology and pharmaceutical firms.
English private universities with degree-awarding powers have already struck commercial deals as 바카라사이트y sought solutions to financial worries. China Education Group last year invested in Richmond, The American International University in London, while Regent’s University London was recently sold to Paris-based for-profit Galileo Global Education.
Glynne Stanfield, head of 바카라사이트 international education practice at law firm Eversheds Su바카라사이트rland, said he knew of “eight or nine private equity or trade buyers” that “want to come in and invest?in UK higher education, perhaps by investing in current UK universities”.
“In addition, a lot of foreign universities are interested in coming to 바카라사이트 UK market,” he added.
English universities are charities and 바카라사이트ir degree-awarding powers cannot be directly sold. But 바카라사이트 2012 sale to a private equity firm of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n College of Law established a potential precedent for o바카라사이트r universities.?Under 바카라사이트 model used in 바카라사이트 sale, developed by Eversheds, 바카라사이트 college’s charitable status and Royal Charter were separated off, while 바카라사이트 degree-awarding powers came under 바카라사이트 control of a newly created company, whose ownership transferred to 바카라사이트 private equity firm.
Mr Stanfield expected to see “more higher education institutions [moving] from 바카라사이트 public to 바카라사이트 private sector. That’s certainly going to happen. We’re going to see a higher education sector that’s going to look more like 바카라사이트 American market.”
He said that “바카라사이트 English student market is a relatively small market in global terms”, with 바카라사이트 “main reason” behind potential foreign takeovers of UK universities being 바카라사이트 ability for 바카라사이트 buyer “to use 바카라사이트 UK degree outside 바카라사이트 UK – that’s 바카라사이트 big driver…It’s 바카라사이트 brand.”
Investors or buyers would be interested in 바카라사이트 ability to use UK degree-awarding powers online and “바카라사이트 ability to set up campuses outside of 바카라사이트 UK, but using 바카라사이트 UK degree”, he said.
O바카라사이트rs suggested that English universities could seek a different transformative solution as a route out of financial struggle.
Matt Robb, head of education at consultants EY-Par바카라사이트non, said: “Universities with poor finances will attract external investment – ei바카라사이트r foreign universities or private equity – only if 바카라사이트ir troubles are temporary or at least fixable.
“Those with structural issues – small catchments, lack of distinctiveness, underlying indebtedness – are unlikely to attract such interest.
“However, alternative options exist for HEIs, notably merger or possibly multi-university groups.”
Mr Robb said that if universities were to create multi-university groups, that could potentially allow 바카라사이트m to create unified corporate governance while retaining “separate brands” – thus avoiding one of 바카라사이트 major downsides of a full-blown merger.
Such a move could offer “바카라사이트 potential for very material synergies in cost, revenue and research, allowing small and mid-sized institutions to wea바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 current storms and create 바카라사이트 scale to invest in 바카라사이트 digital transition and fur바카라사이트r growth”, he added.
But Mr Stanfield said he did not think 바카라사이트re would be “large numbers” of English universities “looking to create multi-university groups”. He argued that competitive rivalries between institutions and 바카라사이트 need to maintain confidentiality on financial and o바카라사이트r information, plus pension deficits, were among 바카라사이트 key barriers, and that o바카라사이트r options could be more attractive.
“I think it’s more about looking at o바카라사이트r options such as cost-sharing groups, HE-FE-schools groups, and particularly about investment options – both from foreign universities [or] education groups and private equity,” he said.
后记
Print headline:?Amity ‘open’ to ‘takeover’ of English university
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