In one of the largest M&A transactions in the past year in the State of Kuwait, GLA & Company acted for Cognita Middle East in their majority stake acquisition in Universe Education Company, the owner of Kuwait’s renowned Dasman Bilingual Schools, in a co-counsel role.  The transaction brings in Cognita’s years of expertise in developing educational curricula and management of Europe and the Middle East’s elite schools to the unique structure of Dasman Bilingual Schools, cementing Cognita’s footprint in the region.

GLA & Co supported many aspects of the transaction, including advising, dealing with, and addressing matters related to the transaction’s structure, Kuwaiti law, regulatory and practice considerations, as well as carrying out due diligence on the target, negotiating and concluding the share purchase agreements and transaction documents, and leading on all the closing aspects of the deal. Utilizing its expertise in the Kuwaiti Merger Control regime, GLA also secured Merger Control clearance from the Kuwait Competition Protection Agency, which was needed to finalize the deal. The transaction was able to highlight the strengths of GLA & Company’s local and regulatory expertise, specifically in the education field.  GLA was co-counsel with the esteemed international law firm of Addleshaw Goddard on the transaction.

Cognita is a global private schools group which owns and operates schools throughout the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, India, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and the United States.  Its schools deliver 12 different curricula: National, International Baccalaureate, American (including American Education Reaches Out – Common Core Plus and Advanced Placement), Australian, Spanish, Chilean, Colombian, Mexican, Indian, Swiss, Italian and Brazilian.  Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Cognita employs 15,000 staff and educates over 75,000 children. 

As one of Kuwait’s most renowned schools, Dasman Bilingual Schools is dedicated to redefining learning as a transformative journey that engages, inspires, and empowers learners. The school’s approach focuses on cultivating essential skills, knowledge, values, and competencies through inquiry-based methodologies, reflection, and meaningful social interaction.

Alex Saleh expressed immense pride in completing the transaction, stating, “the sophistication of Kuwait’s education sector presented an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate our strengths. Our team showcased exceptional regulatory knowledge and transactional skills, crucial in finalizing this unique deal. We anticipate further high-magnitude transactions in the region, driven by the intense interest of the Kuwaiti people, government, and businesses in education. Contributing to the dynamic commercial and regulatory landscape of such demanding sectors is always gratifying. The successful closure, despite challenges, was made possible by the remarkable cooperation among all parties, reflecting their collective goodwill”.

Yousef Al Amly further stated that “I am extremely proud of our team’s accomplishments in successfully leading this significant transaction. Our comprehensive involvement, from advising on the deal’s structure to securing necessary regulatory approvals, including the Merger Control clearance from the Kuwait Competition Protection Agency, demonstrates our firm’s deep expertise and commitment to excellence. This transaction not only underscores our proficiency in navigating Kuwaiti law and regulations but also highlights our specific strengths in the education sector. The successful conclusion of this deal is a testament to our team’s dedication and the collaborative efforts of all parties involved. We look forward to continuing to provide top-tier legal services”.

The GLA team was led by Managing Partner, Alex Saleh and Partner, Yousef Al-Amly, both being supported by Senior Associates, Asad Ahmad and Mohammed Al Awadhi and Associates Khaled Al Makhezeem, Khaled Al-Khashab, Salma Farouq, Jehan Saleh, and Yousry Ibrahim.

GLA & Company is one of the premier independent law firms in the Middle East focusing solely on Arab civil law.  With over 50 GLA lawyers and a total of 100 lawyers in its association, the firm has offices throughout the UAE in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt and Kuwait.

For more information on the deal, please see here.