DLA Piper has advised the management team of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners' portfolio company, Mander Portman Woodward (MPW), one of the UK’s most prestigious and well-respected independent Sixth Form College groups, on its disposal to Kaplan International for an undisclosed amount. The deal is expected to close in early January.

MPW is the UK's leading provider of high quality, bespoke education to UK as well as international students, covering a wide range of A Level and GCSE courses. In total MPW runs three colleges in London, Cambridge and Birmingham with around 1,000 students.

Founded in 1973, MPW has helped its students in achieving academic success and gain entry to the world’s leading universities. MPW is one of only three institutions in the UK approved to teach the International Foundation Programme with academic direction from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). MPW, along with its subsidiary, Justin Craig Education, is also the UK’s leading provider of revision courses for extramural students.

The DLA Piper team was led by Corporate partner, Ed Griffiths who worked with  Tax partner, Paul Rutherford and Corporate associate, Ed Coates.