ACG House , Level 17 , 396 Queen Street PO Box 6199, Wellesley Street Auckland 1141, New Zealand Telephone 64-9-306 0440 Facsimile 64-9-307 5393 Email [email protected] www.acgedu.com EMBARGOED UNTIL: Midday NZT 16th September

16 September 2015

ACG partners with PEP to further expand its premium education services

ACG, New Zealand’s leading and largest private education provider, says prominent Australasian investment company Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is ideally placed to support the Group’s ambitious growth and development plans.

Under the terms of an agreement finalised today, PEP will acquire ACG and provide new funding that will enable the Group to enhance and expand its provision of premium education services in New Zealand and overseas. The investment, which is subject to a number of regulatory and other approvals, is expected to complete by early 2016. The terms of the agreement are confidential.

Commenting on ACG’s education philosophy, John Morris, the Chair of ACG’s Education Council, stated: “When Sir John Graham and Dawn Jones founded Senior College in 1995 their vision was to enable ACG’s students to achieve outstanding academic outcomes. That vision, together with the focus on our students’ further education and employment pathways, remains central to ACG’s education philosophy today. With PEP’s backing, we look forward to enhancing our students’ learning and employment opportunities further.”

PEP Managing Director Geoff Hutchinson said: “We greatly admire ACG’s commitment to academic excellence and the delivery of quality driven outcomes for its students. Through its schools in New Zealand, and Vietnam, together with tertiary & careers training, early childhood education and university foundation courses, ACG nurtures thousands of students to achieve their potential. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with ACG, and we look forward to supporting management, the principals and teachers as they continue to deliver outstanding educational outcomes."

ACG’s Chairman, John Maasland, added “PEP has been clear from the outset that it wants to work with ACG’s existing Education Council, senior management team, principals and excellent teachers and tutors for the ongoing benefit of our students. This agreement will see ACG well positioned to expand and enhance our education services. This will include the growth of services for international students both in New Zealand and offshore, which will provide for continued reinvestment in the Group’s domestic facilities and services. It is also in line with the Government’s stated goal of doubling the size of New Zealand’s international education industry by 2025.”

Founded in 1995 by Sir John Graham (ex- headmaster) and Dawn Jones (ex- Diocesan School principal) ACG is best known for its private schools in Auckland, which provide students with a world-class academic education in an environment where achievement and excellence is celebrated. The Group also operates international schools in Vietnam and Indonesia, while in New Zealand it provides tertiary & careers training, early childhood education, English language and university foundation courses.

ACG provides education and training to over 10,000 students per year, enabling each of those individuals to pursue their chosen pathway to further education or employment.

ENDS

For further information call:

In New Zealand In Australia Geoff Senescall Lauren Thompson M: +64 21 481 234 T: +61 438 954 729

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