Brave Bison's £19m Acquisition of MiniMBA
Deal News | Jun 25, 2025 | Business Cloud
Brave Bison Group plc, a marketing and technology firm owning Social Chain, is set to acquire the eLearning company MiniMBA from Centaur Media plc in a deal valued at £19 million. Announced after entering into exclusive negotiations on 9th May, the acquisition is poised to boost Brave Bison's pro-forma net revenue by 43% and adjusted EBITDA by 80%. MiniMBA, based in London and leading with professionals such as Mark Ritson and Tim Plyming, offers MBA-level online courses to around 6,000 delegates annually. The acquisition is funded by a new revolving credit facility and a placement of new shares. Mark Ritson will maintain his role in teaching and become a leading shareholder in Brave Bison. This acquisition marks Brave Bison's eighth and largest, aligning with its vision to become a preferred marketing and technology partner for innovative brands.
Sectors
- EdTech
- Marketing Technology
Geography
- United Kingdom – Both Brave Bison and MiniMBA are based in the UK, making it a focal point of the business operations and acquisition.
Industry
- EdTech – The article revolves around the acquisition of MiniMBA, an eLearning company providing online MBA-level courses, which is a key player in the education technology sector.
- Marketing Technology – Brave Bison is described as a marketing and technology firm, indicating its operations within the MarTech industry, relevant to their business and the integration of MiniMBA.
Financials
- £19 million – The acquisition price that Brave Bison is paying to acquire MiniMBA.
- £36.5 million – The projected pro-forma net revenue post-acquisition.
- £8.1 million – The projected adjusted EBITDA post-acquisition.
- £13.5 million – The funds to be raised through a placement of new ordinary shares to finance the acquisition.
- £10 million – The new revolving credit facility to finance part of the transaction, £6 million of which will be drawn.
- £4 million – The strategic personal investment made by Mark Ritson into Brave Bison.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brave Bison Group plc | Buyer | Company | A marketing and technology firm, also owning Social Chain, making strategic moves into the EdTech sector. |
| MiniMBA | Target Company | Company | An eLearning business providing MBA-level tuition through an online platform to thousands of professionals annually. |
| Centaur Media plc | Vendor | Company | The company owning MiniMBA prior to its acquisition by Brave Bison. |
| Mark Ritson | Leader/Founder | Person | Founder of MiniMBA and former London Business School marketing professor. |
| Tim Plyming | CEO | Person | CEO of MiniMBA, overseeing the company's operations. |
| Oliver Green | Executive Chairman | Person | Executive Chairman of Brave Bison, quoting the strategic direction post-acquisition. |