Tradie training group Australian Industrial Systems Institute has appointed boutique advisor Lempriere Capital to run a strategic review, Street Talk can reveal.
Having fended off approaches from private equity and offshore parties during the dark days of the crisis that claimed the likes of Acquire Learning and Vocation, AISI, owned by industry veteran Roula Tsiolas, will kick off negotiations with potential investors next week.
"For some time now we have been approached by private equity to either invest in or acquire [AISI]," Ms Tsiolas told Street Talk. "The sector is attractive and privately funded education is a high-end, quality service backed by a national government strategy."
"We are considering our strategic options, which may include external investment to support established growth plans."
AISI offers qualifications for overseas students in areas where there is an identified shortage of skilled workers. An area of focus is building and construction with AISI seeking to close the global skills gaps in response to an outburst of infrastructure investment. The company also expanded to include drone training in 2015.
Education assets are obviously not the easiest sell following several high profile blow-ups, including Vocation, which collapsed after one of its key subsidiaries was stripped of $20 million in government funding.
However, AISI is keen to differentiate itself, pointing out that it is not reliant on government funding. Full fee-paying international students obtain visas to study based on the government's skills shortages advice.
The company has recorded revenue growth of 49 per cent since 2015 financial year.
