A Dentons Corporate team advised on a significant partnership between client Spire Capital Partners, a private equity firm specializing in business services, information services, education, media and communications sector investments, and the management of Surgent Tax & Accounting Education, a leading provider of continuing professional education services to organizations and professionals in the accounting, auditing and taxation industries.

Surgent provides live seminars, web based video instruction and self-study materials to members of state accounting societies, public accounting firms, and CPAs throughout the US. In 2013, Surgent expects to serve more than 105,000 professionals through its web based and on-site educational offerings and grow its annual webinar subscriptions by more than 100 percent. The company will continue to be led by CEO Jack Surgent, who will steer further growth with the enhanced resources and demonstrated education industry investment expertise offered by Spire Capital.

This marks the first investment out of Spire Capital’s third fund (Spire III), which focuses on small market investments. Spire Capital has managed over $700 million in private equity commitments since its founding. It is distinguished by its mutual relationships with management teams, working hand-in-hand to navigate operational and strategic goals.

The Dentons team was led by New York Private Equity head Paul Gajer, Private Equity partner Jane Meyer and Kansas City Corporate partner Jessica Norris and included Kansas City Corporate senior managing associate Frank Koranda and New York associate Wayne Uffleman. New York Tax partner Tim Santoli and Kansas City Intellectual Property and Technology partner Brian McGinley provided support on the deal.