Response to Press Speculation
Possible Acquisition of MiniMBA
Brave Bison, the digital media, marketing and technology company, notes recent press speculation and confirms that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire MiniMBA from Centaur Media plc for an enterprise value of £19 million.
Strategic Rationale
MiniMBA is an eLearning business for marketing professionals. MiniMBA provides MBA-level tuition through an online learning platform to c.6,000 delegates every year, and has trained almost 40,000 professionals since inception. MiniMBA sells directly to marketers, as well as to major brand advertisers looking to train their marketing teams including John Lewis, Tesco, Google, Nestle and Carlsberg.
MiniMBA is led by its founder, ex-London Business School marketing professor, Mark Ritson, and CEO Tim Plyming. Mark Ritson is one of the marketing industry’s most influential commentators, and has worked as a brand consultant for global clients including LVMH, McKinsey and Baxter.
MiniMBA would form the cornerstone of a new eLearning & business intelligence division for Brave Bison. The new division’s products will be cross sold to Brave Bison’s existing base of over 120 clients, many of which employ alumni of MiniMBA. As part of the Group, MiniMBA would also leverage Brave Bison’s expertise in artificial intelligence, digital marketing and technology services, including near-shore hubs for product development.
The Acquisition
Brave Bison intends to fund the acquisition consideration by way of:
§ Existing Group balance sheet cash, totalling £5 million at 31 March 2025 (unaudited)
§ A new Group bank facility of up to £10 million. Letters of support have been received from multiple UK banks
§ A strategic investment of £4 million from MiniMBA founder Mark Ritson who would, on completion, become a Top 5 shareholder
§ A placing of new ordinary Brave Bison shares to existing and new investors
In the year ending 31 December 2024, MiniMBA generated net revenue £10.7 million, growth of 5% year-on-year. Should the acquisition complete, MiniMBA would be expected to contribute a minimum of £3.5 million in Adjusted EBITDA, increasing the enlarged Brave Bison pro-forma Adjusted EBITDA by 78% to £8.0 million.
Completion of the potential acquisition is expected be materially accretive to underlying earnings per share on a pro-forma basis.
Whilst the parties remain in exclusive negotiations in respect of the potential acquisition until 19 June 2025, there can be no certainty that the acquisition will conclude nor the terms on which any acquisition will conclude. Further announcements will be made, as appropriate, in due course.
For further information please contact:
Brave Bison Group plc via Cavendish
Oliver Green, Executive Chairman
Theo Green, Chief Growth Officer
Philippa Norridge, Chief Financial Officer
