Mid-market private equity firm LDC has bought out online learning provider learndirect in a deal worth £40 million.

Mid-market private equity firm LDC has bought out online learning provider learndirect in a deal worth £40 million.

The acquisition is set to give learndirect the ability to work in the ‘wider’ marketplace and to expand across a broader range of services, according to a statement.

The deal achieves an exit for learndirect Ufi Charitable Trust, with the transaction seeing LDC acquire parent company Ufi Limited.

Launched in 2000, learndirect is reported to have aided three million people in learning how to use the internet and gain qualifications in subjects such as maths and English.

Managing director of LDC, Daniel Sasaki, says that the purchase combines the experience of the private equity firm with its abilities in consumer-facing and online businesses with learndirect’s ‘great’ management team.

Sasaki adds: ‘These are very strong foundations on which to further enhance learndirect’s offer and suite of services for the benefit of adult learners throughout the UK.’

The acquisition marks LDC’s eleventh deal of 2011 and takes its total amount invested during the year to £245 million. Recent transactions include the buys of Driver Hire, musicMagpie.co.uk. Kee Safety and Original Additions.

Sarah Jones, chief executive of learndirect, comments: ‘The sale of Ufi Ltd and its learndirect brand is the beginning of a new era for training provision in the UK.

‘We are a commercial company operating in a competitive industry. We have developed valuable expertise and experience, which gives us a strong platform for growth and a fantastic consumer brand.’

Jones believes that learndirect will now be able to reach more businesses and learners.

Since its formation in 1981, LDC has completed over 400 reported investments, with 60 on-going investments in UK businesses.