Chicago Growth Partners Refinances SESI

Chicago Growth Partners has led the recapitalization of Specialized Education Services, a provider of non-public, for-profit educational services for children with learning and behavioral difficulties. Proceeds from the transaction were used to refinance the company’s existing debt and pay a dividend to shareholders.

PRESS RELEASE

Chicago Growth Partners is pleased to announce that in June 2012, it led the recapitalization of Specialized Education Services, Inc. (“SESI”) a leading provider of non-public, for-profit educational services for children with learning and behavioral difficulties in the K-12 market. Proceeds from the transaction were used to refinance the company’s existing debt and pay a dividend to shareholders. The recapitalization was funded with excess cash from the company’s balance sheet and third party debt facilities that were structured to expand the capital available to support SESI’s growth plans. The company plans to extend its reach to new states and more students by opening new schools, acquiring existing non-public schools and partnering with more districts to manage special education and alternative education programs.

CGP led the recapitalization of SESI in July 2009, partnering with Prairie Capital, Twin Bridge Capital Partners and the company’s management team. School districts view SESI as a valuable partner because of its ability to successfully educate students with the most severe learning and behavioral challenges. In addition to providing its services in standalone non-public day schools, the company contracts to serve special needs students within the public schools. SESI has also taken over once-failing public special education schools and, by implementing its educational and behavioral model, drastically improved student outcomes.

About SESI

Serving over 3,000 students in several states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Illinois and California, SESI is a private provider of specialized education services for children and youth facing learning, language, behavior and social challenges. The company’s intensive, one-to-one, tutorial-based classroom model and values-driven rewards system combine to create a unique learning program and enriching environment for each student.

About Chicago Growth Partners

For over 25 years and across more than 100 growth companies, the principals of Chicago Growth Partners have partnered with quality management teams to help facilitate their growth objectives. CGP executes its growth-focused investment strategy across four industries: Education, Healthcare, Tech-Enabled Services and Industrial Growth, where our expertise in information technology, marketing, and finance can often be helpful to our management teams. CGP currently manages $1.2 billion of committed capital and has offices in Chicago and La Jolla.