Stone-Goff Partners has made an investment in Learner’s Edge, a provider of graduate-level, distance learning courses for Pre K-12 teachers.
Learner’s Edge is a developer and marketer of continuing education and professional development graduate courses for Pre K-12 teachers. The company offers a range of print based, online and on-site courses across an array of teaching topics. Teachers use the company’s products to satisfy their teacher certification requirements or to move up their salary scale within their school district through additional education. Learner’s Edge was founded in 2002 by two middle-school teachers, Joe Cotter (CEO) and Kyle Pederson. Learner’s Edge partners with academic institutions such as Augustana College, Colorado State University-Pueblo, North Dakota State University, Marygrove College, Pacific-Lutheran University and Lourdes University to provide degree-eligible credits to teachers. In addition, Learner’s Edge has partnered with Augustana College to provide an online masters of education degree program. Learner’s Edge currently offers 80 courses through its continuing education and affiliated masters programs. The company is based near Minneapolis in Lakeville, MN (www.learnersedgeinc.com).
Stone-Goff Partners invests in lower middle market companies in the consumer, leisure, information, service, media and retail sectors. The firm is based in New York (www.stonegoff.com).
Greene Holcomb Fisher (GHF) served as the exclusive financial advisor to Learner’s Edge in the transaction. The recapitalization of Learner’s Edge marks the sixth transaction by GHF in the K-12 education market in the past two years.
“We are thrilled with the transaction outcome and appreciative of the extraordinary efforts of GHF and the management team at Learner’s Edge. This was a very smooth transaction process, and GHF helped facilitate every step along the way,” said Hannah Craven, Founding Partner of Stone-Goff Partners. “We look forward to working with the team at Learner’s Edge to continue to grow the business and pursue new opportunities in the education space.”
© 2013 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 11-6-13
