Baker & McKenzie acted for Study Group, Blake Dawson acted for the private equity buyers Providence Equity Partners and Allens Arthur Robinson acted for the financiers, which included Credit Agricole, Goldman Sachs JBWere, the National Australia Bank and Westpac.

Tom Highnam, one of the lead partners from Allens, said the sale is indicative of increasing activity within the private equity sector.

Study Group provides English language programmes and assists international students gain entry to universities in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia. Its network includes an estimated 55,000 students. Sydney University, Monash Universtiy, the University of Western Australia and Charles Sturt University have arrangements with Study Group.