EdtechX Holdings Acquisition Corporation

EdtechX Holdings Acquisition Corporation

Oct 19, 2020 by Roman Developer

PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION: Meten Education


ESTIMATED CURRENT FUNDS in TRUST: $65.5 million*
CURRENT PER SHARE REDEMPTION PRICE: $10.35*
ENTERPRISE VALUE: $614.0 million

*SPACInsider estimate a/o 3-25-20

EdTechX Holdings Acquisition Corp. proposes to merge with Meten Education, (“Meten”),  a market leader in English Learning Training (“ELT”) in China.  The transaction has an implied equity value of $535 million and an implied enterprise value of $614 million.

Meten operates an omni-channel (retail and digital) business comprising a nationwide network of 149 new generation learning centres (covering 32 cities in 14 provinces) under the brands Meten (adult) and ABC (junior brand), as well as the English digital tutoring platform for young professionals, Likeshuo.  In January 2019, Meten raised a series C of $43 million led by China International Capital Corporation (CICC).

The combined entity will operate as Meten EdtechX and focus on providing industry leading English and future skills training for a growing market of Chinese students and young professionals. Meten EdtechX intends to pursue expansion plans including market consolidation in China and the roll out of Meten’s existing omni-channel distribution platform, combining digital delivery and strategic retail presence, across a total addressable market of more than 600 cities in China.

In connection with the transaction, EdtechX may provide Meten with up to $100 million of capital, including through the draw-down of up to $20 million from an irrevocable commitment provided by Azimut pursuant to a forward purchase contract originally entered into in connection with EdtechX’s initial public offering. These proceeds are expected to mostly fund future expansion as well as potential synergistic and accretive acquisitions.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020.

Highlights

  • Below represents a 2-year revenue CAGR of 33% and 2-year EBITDA CAGR of 190%.

2018
Revenue: $200 million (RMB 1,424m)
EBITDA: $20.1 million (RMB 144m)

2016
Revenue: $113.9 million (RMB 802m)
EBITDA: $2.4 million (RMB 17.1m)

– Listed Chinese peers include:

  • Omnichannel education stocks: TAL (NYSE:TAL), New Oriental Education & Technology (NYSE:EDU)
  • Pure play digital education stocks: GSX Tech Edu (NYSE:GSX), Koolearn Technology (HKG:1797), Youdao (NYSE:DAO)

TRANSACTION SUMMARY

The current shareholders of Meten will receive consideration of approximately 51.4 million shares of the combined entity on closing of the transaction, representing $535 million in equity value, and Meten’s shareholders are rolling over up to 100% of their equity in the transaction.

EdtechX will be required to pay cash to electing Meten shareholders, in an amount equal to 50% of the excess of the remaining cash at closing over $30 million (after taking into account redemptions elected by EdtechX’s public stockholders and together with the proceeds arising from private placements) up to an aggregate of $10 million.

Cash consideration paid will reduce the Meten Merger Shares issuable to the Meten shareholders.

Under the terms of the proposed transaction, the parties will form New Holdco, and EdtechX and Meten will become subsidiaries of New Holdco.

  • Upon closing of the transaction, New Holdco is expected to have an initial fully diluted enterprise value of $614 million, implying respectively 19.3x and 14.3x 2020 and 2021 projected Adjusted EBITDA.

EARN-OUT

Certain Meten shareholders may receive up to:

  • 4.0 million shares if New Holdco’s share price exceeds $12.50 by fiscal year 2022
  • 7.0 million shares if the share price exceeds $15.00 by fiscal year 2023.

FORWARD PURCHASE CONTRACT

  • Azimut Enterprises Holdings S.r.l. (the “Azimut Investor”) entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with EdtechX to purchase up to 2,000,000 of units at $10.00 per unit ($20,000,000), on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in EdtechX’s initial public offering.
  • The exact number of units to be purchased by the Azimut Investor will be determined by EdtechX and Holdco based on the capital needs in connection with the Mergers.

PIPE

  • The parties to use commercially reasonable efforts to arrange and obtain private financing in the range of $20 million and $100 million (“Financing”). Terms to be no worse than Azimut/public shareholders

Edtechx Transaction Summary 3-11-20


LOCK-UP

  • 50% of shares held by Meten Founder Shareholders subject to lock-up until the earlier of:
    • 6 months from closing
    • When the share price exceeds $12.50 for 20 out of 30 trading days
  • The other 50% subject to 1-year lock-up

BOARD

Benjamin Vedrenne-Cloquet (CEO) and Charles McIntyre (Chairman and CIO), the founders of EdtechX, will sit on the board of New Holdco, as independent directors, alongside Meten’s founders until end of 2023.


NOTABLE CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

  • Minimum Cash Closing Condition: The Azimut Investment having closed and EdtechX having at least $30,000,000 in cash, net of redemptions, and together with any funds in connection with the Azimut Investment and the Financing
    • Amount shall be reduced to $20,000,000 in the event that the parties raise less than $10 million in the Financing

NOTABLE CONDITIONS TO TERMINATION

  • By either EdtechX or Meten if the business combination is not consummated on or before April 1, 2020

FOUNDER SHARES and PRIVATE PLACEMENT PURCHASE

  • 1,581,250 Founder Shares at IPO – None to be cancelled
  • 3,780,000 Private Placement Warrants – None to be cancelled

ADVISORS

  • Chardan is acting as financial and capital market advisor to EdtechX
  • Macquarie is acting as financial advisor to Meten
  • Graubard Miller LLP is acting as legal counsel to EdtechX
  • Morgan, Lewis & Bockius is acting as legal counsel to Meten

 

EDTECHX HOLDINGS MANAGEMENT & BOARD


Executive Officers

Charles McIntyre, 49
Executive Chairman of the Board & CIO

Mr. McIntyre is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Investment Officer of EdtechX Holdings Acquisition Corp. Mr. McIntyre is also the Chief Executive Officer of IBIS Capital Limited, an investment and advisory firm that he co-founded in 2003. He has been responsible for leading the executive team and the overall strategy of the firm. Mr. McIntyre has over 25 years of experience of building businesses in a number of industry sectors including edtech, media and financial services. During the course of his career he has been a member of the boards of a range of entrepreneurial companies in the media and education sectors. Mr. McIntyre began his career with the investment banking arm of Apax Partners, one of the world’s leading independent private equity firms, where he helped build the company’s media franchise. In 1998, together with other senior management, he spun off the investment banking arm of Apax Partners. Over the next two years the business was built up into a pan-European investment bank operating with offices in 7 countries with 140 people before being sold for in excess of $200m. In 2006, together with IBIS Capital and other partners, Mr. McIntyre formed a long/short global hedge fund focused on the media sector, which during his 6 year period as a partner generated returns of approximately 53% (note Mr. McIntyre was not one of the fund managers). In 2013, together with Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet, Mr. McIntyre co-founded EdTech Global to build a conference and research business focused on the education technology and training, that now operates thought leadership events in Europe, Asia and Africa. Mr. McIntyre is involved in a number of other initiates including as a Governor of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, which is a world renowned independent research institute based in the UK. He is Chairman of Learnlight, a technology focused provider of training to corporate customers across the globe. Mr. McIntyre is also Chairman of Immerse, a leading entrepreneurial company focused on the use of virtual reality. He is also a founder of the EdTech Global Foundation, which seeks to improve life outcomes through education. Mr. McIntyre holds an honours degree in Economics and Philosophy from the London School of Economics.


Benjamin Vedrenne-Cloquet, 41
CEO & Director

Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet has served as Operating Partner at IBIS Capital Limited since January 2013. In 2013, Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet co-founded EdTech Global with Charles McIntyre. Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet is also Chair of the London Edtech Week and Asia Edtech Week, serves as advisory board member for SXSW EDU, one of the largest conferences in Education in the U.S., and is a regular commentator in the international business press (such as Forbes, CNBC and Le Monde) on education technology matters. Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet has over 17 years of operational, investment and advisory experience in the Media, Advertising and Education industries, with a particular focus on digital transition and international expansion situations. From 2008 to 2012, he served as EMEA Head of Corporate Development, Strategy and New Ventures for Turner International, the international TV division of Time Warner ((NYSE: TWX). While there, Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet led the expansion of a portfolio of thematic TV channels (CNN, Cartoon Network, TNT), kids entertainment brands, consumer products and joint ventures spanning 25 countries. As Global Digital Lead for Turner International, he also led the expansion of the group’s portfolio of digital brands and new ventures across various content verticals (News, Kids, Sports, Lifestyle). Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet previously held various senior executive positions including general management, business development, finance and strategy functions at publicly listed media and communication groups including Omnicon (NYSE: OMC), Modern Times Group (NASDAQ OMX- MTGA) and Lagardere (EPA: MMB), where he has been involved in turnaround and restructuring situations, as well as roll ups and international development in both large and small divisions. During his career, Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet has been directly involved in the execution of many cross border transactions ranging from M&A, greenfield investments, divestments, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, minority investments and licensing deals. Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet started his career in New York City to launch Planet Finance (now Positive Planet), a micro finance NGO, working directly with its founder. Mr. Jacques Attali, a former Special Advisor and counsellor to various French Republic Presidents. Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet is a Trustee of the Board of CFBL, an international French Bilingual School in London where he is member of the Technology, Finance and Special Needs committees. In 2018, the school ranked 1st in a global competition for math attainment for ages 10 to 14. Mr. Vedrenne-Cloquet graduated summa cum laude from Babson College (USA), holds a master degree from ESCP Europe (France) and an executive education certificate from London Business School (UK).


Rory Henson, 28
CFO

Mr. Henson has served as Vice President of IBIS Capital since October 2012 where he focuses on education and healthcare coverage. He is also a founding member of EdTech Global and has helped the firm expand its business model into the healthcare sector. From June 2011 to September 2012, Mr. Henson was an investment banking analyst with Jefferies & Co. focusing on companies in the technology, media, telecommunications and business services sectors. Mr. Henson received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Finance from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom.


 

Board of Directors

Peter C. Davis, 63
Director

Mr. Davis is a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in the New York Office. He joined BCG in May 2013 and serves education, information services and private equity clients. Prior to joining BCG, Mr. Davis served as a Senior Advisor for McKinsey & Company from 2011 to 2012. From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Davis served as President of McGraw-Hill Education, and before that, EVP of Global Strategy and Development for The McGraw-Hill Companies. Under his leadership at McGraw, the education business launched market leading digital learning platforms in both higher education and the K-12 space, as well as launching the top classroom assessment offerings in the market. In the corporate strategy role he initiated a 5-year plan to transform the company’s portfolio from being a diversified media company into a focused financial information provider. Over the period the company’s stock rose five fold. Since leaving McGraw, Mr. Davis has been advising education companies across for profit and not-for-profit sectors on a global basis. His current work at BCG focuses on building digital learning platforms, assessment technologies and classroom teaching practices that generate dramatic increases in student outcomes and instructor productivity. Mr. Davis is also a core member of the firm’s private equity practice where he works on deals and portfolio company assignments in education and information services. In addition to this role, he is a Senior Fellow focused on Digital Transformation at The Conference Board in New York, where he serves members on how to advance their data, analytic and technology agendas. Mr. Davis also currently serves on several boards, including Greenwich Associates and the Equality Charter School located in New York City. Prior to line management experience at McGraw-Hill, Mr. Davis served in various senior consulting roles at The MAC Group, in Cambridge and Booz Allen & Hamilton, where he rose to become a senior partner and practice leader in the New York office. He did his undergraduate studies in History and English at Rutgers College, where he was a Henry Rutgers Scholar, captain of the track and cross country teams and won All America honors in cross country. He subsequently earned an MBA, with honors, from the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University.


Zelmira Koch Polk, 41
Director

Ms. Polk is a senior business executive with extensive experience building and turning around education businesses internationally. She has worked in finance, crisis communications and management consulting with specialization in the education and healthcare sectors. She has particular skills entering new geographic markets and adapting businesses to regulatory and cultural demands. Ms. Polk is a founding partner of the Hearth Education Advisors which was formed in December 2010 and has served as a Managing Director of the Hearth since September 2011. The Hearth is a think-tank and education advisory group with offices in India, UK and Ireland. It works with the public and private sector internationally on all aspects of education, setting up education institutions, accreditation systems and businesses. The Hearth works closely with the investor community and has extensive experience in education finance. Ms. Polk is a certified Diploma Non-Executive Director from the Institute of Directors and has served on the board of directors of ARFA Röhrenwerke AG, a Swiss steel company, since April 2012, CambioScience, a Cambridge based online professional training and accreditation group, since September 2017, and on the governing board of Beavers School in Hounslow (UK) since December 2017. Prior to the Hearth, Ms. Polk founded and ran the international division of Chartwell Education Group (2007-2009), an education-consulting group created by the former U.S. Secretary of education and his chief of staff. Chartwell specialized in working with public and private sector clients to build and restructure education institutions and businesses in the U.S. and internationally. Ms. Polk oversaw all aspects of international operations from business development to daily management of engagements with clients in Europe, Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Middle East, India and South America. Ms. Polk built high-level relationships with government and industry leaders advising on the creation of schools, universities, education systems and technology adaptation. She facilitated, structured and negotiated joint ventures, acquisitions and was an advisor to private equity and family offices looking to set up education funds or make investments in the space. Prior to Chartwell, Ms. Polk worked for the Dilenschneider Group (2004-2006), a leading crisis management and corporate public relations firm in New York. While at Dilenschneider, Ms. Polk oversaw crisis communications accounts for governments and corporate Fortune 50 clients. Ms. Polk developed communications strategies, corporate identity positioning, and communication analysis and crisis impact for firms in industries ranging from finance, energy and media to international governments and foundations. While at Dilenschneider, she built and managed communications for the World Business Forum NYC. Ms. Polk started her business career as an associate analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston, London in the M&A Media Telecoms division and working with the World Economic Forum on their session programming and speaker program. Ms. Polk is very involved with a variety of organizations focused on crisis and conflict prevention, resolution. She was on the international advisory council of the International Crisis Group (2006-14), vice-president and board member of the One Bright World Foundation (2007-12) and advisory board of Oxford Weidenfeld-Hoffman Scholarship and Leadership Trust (2007-15). Ms. Polk studied International Business majoring in economics and languages at University College London and European Business School.


Vincent Camerlynck, 56
Director

Mr. Camerlynck has served as a Senior Advisor at Research and Investment Relations firm, Inbound Capital, since August 2017. He also founded WME Asset Management Consulting in November 2015. Mr. Camerlynck also currently holds Independent Non-Executive Director positions on the Boards of Haitong Bank (since November 2016), a banking division of Chinese firm Haitong Securities (SHA: 600837), C Worldwide Asset Management (since September 2017), an asset management company in Denmark with over $15 billion of assets under management and Capfi Delen Asset Management (since March 2017), an asset manager in Belgium ranked within top 50 asset managers in Europe by Morningstar. He serves on a number of Committees including Risk, Corporate Governance, Internal Audit and Remuneration. He is a member of the Global Advisory Board of the Financial Services Division of Roland Berger, a leading global strategy consulting firm with over 2,400 employees and presence in 34 countries. Mr. Camerlynck started his career in New York where he developed the Institutional Equity franchise for the leading Belgian investment bank Petercam before joining HSBC Investment Bank in London in 1990 where he was heading the international sales team. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1998, where he became a Managing Director and co-headed the Paris Equity business. Mr. Camerlynck transitioned to the asset management industry in 2005 and joined BNP Paribas Asset Management as a member of the Executive Committee with global responsibility for Business Development. He contributed to the deep transformation of the company which significantly expanded its global footprint and doubled its AUM within a five-year period. He also served as the CEO of the UK business before relocating to Hong Kong where he became the CEO for Asia Pacific in 2013. During his tenure, he strengthened the company’s strategic positioning across the region with particular focus on China, India, Japan and Australia. Mr. Camerlynck holds the Non-Executive Director Diploma awarded by Pearson/FT in London, a Postgraduate Degree in International Relations (LSE/UK), a Post graduate Degree in Economics (UCL/Belgium), and a Masters Degree in Law (KUL/Belgium).


Marcelo G. Di Rosa, 57
Director

Mr. Di Rosa is an entrepreneur in the areas of IT and Education. He is currently the CEO of Atlantic Technologies, a successful IT service company based in Milan and London. He also co-founded the International Schools of Como (ISC) in Italy in September 2002 to provide for the education of his own children and local community alike and has been its _____ since that time. The ISC was one if the first schools in Italy to be certified and to provide an educational program based on the International Baccalaureate (IB). Subsequently, in September 2013, he co-founded the International School of Ticino, in Lugano Switzerland. Mr. Di Rosa served as a Board member and president of the company until the transfer of ownership to an international group in May 2017. In September 1997, Mr. Di Rosa founded Atlantic Technologies, the company helps clients accomplish their business goals by adapting to new ways of managing their business, reaching out and serving their customers, through the use of innovative technologies, such as Salesforce and Oracle in a variety of sectors from Education to Industrial international customers. Prior to Atlantic Technologies, Mr. Di Rosa held a number of senior executive positions software and technology companies. He was the VP at Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) for continental Europe helping the company with the integration of newly acquired Peoplesoft/JDEdwards business as well as with the transition of Oracle from a technology focus company to a Technology & Business Application provider. Prior to Oracle, Mr. Di Rosa worked for Siebel Systems, as MD Southern Europe, from 1996 to 1997. Siebel Systems, a Silicon Valley company, was one of the largest software companies at the time in the area of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) with clients in the telecom, utilities and banking sectors. Prior to Siebel Systems, Mr. Di Rosa was the Managing Director for South Europe of JDEdwards inc, a Denver Based, ERP software company, from 1990 to 1996. Prior to his European position, Mr. Di Rosa worked in the United States from 1983 to 1990 for JDEdwards in a variety of positions, including launching their International partnership program, opening and running the East-Coast, product development and services. Mr. Di Rosa studied Economics at UADE in Buenos Aires and holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University.