Educomp buys out US-based Learning.com

Education service provider Educomp Solutions is buying a 51% stake in US-based e-learning company Learning.com for $24.5 million.The company is tapping internal accruals and reserves to fund the buy, which is its second strategic investment after the acquisition of Singaporean K12 company Ask n Learn.

Founded in 1999, Learning.com provides web-delivered curriculum and assessment, and has as many as 2 million students in schools across the United States. With this acquisition, Educomp will get distribution access to over 800 US districts, through which it can reach out to the North American market.Prakash said Educomp hopes to take its own basket of offerings to American schools and bring Learning.com’s products to its 4 million users in India and Southeast Asia.

Read more in The DNA Money article.

PE firm eyes 49% in KC Securities

Gaja Capital Partners, an India-focused private equity firm, is in talks with the Mumbai-based Kaycee Group to pick up a 49% stake in Kantilal Chhaganlal (KC) Securities, according to a source familiar with the development.

The deal size for the the Mumbai-based broking house is pegged at roughly $40 million (around Rs 160 crore). Kantilal Chhaganlal Securities managing director Jayesh Sheth confirmed that he is in talks with more than one prospective
investor.

However, he refused to divulge more details.Gaja Capital Partners, too, refused to comment on the issue. Gaja has investments in companies Educomp and Vishal Retail.
Sources involved with the deal process said KC Securities had been in talks with a UK-based firm. However, the deal fell through as both parties could not reach an agreement over valuation.

KC Securities is a member of both the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange. It has a 150-odd franchisee network and offers retail and institutional broking in equities, commodity broking, wealth management services and mutual fund distribution services among others. The company plans to foray into investment banking and services specifically targeted at NRIs.