DFDL advised the founders of CIA First in Cambodia on its sale of a controlling stake to Navis Capital Partners, a Malaysian-based private equity firm that is currently building out an education platform in Southeast Asia’s frontier economies. The terms of the sale were undisclosed.
CIA First is a K-12 international schools group based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and is the largest international private school in the country by student enrolment.
The transaction, which was announced on 31 July 2020, builds upon DFDL’s long track record of advising on complex deals in the region that are executed in accelerated time lines. The DFDL team was led by Cambodia-based partner Chris Robinson along with Robin Teow (Partner & Head of China Desk), Clint O’Connell (Partner, Cambodia Deputy Managing Director & Head of Cambodia Tax Practice), Lai Kooithong (Co-Head of Cambodia Banking & Finance Practice), Kheang Sophorne (Senior Consultant), Seng Leab (Consultant) and Kang Thavy (Junior Consultant).
The sale of CIA First International School adds another mandate to what has already been an impressive year for DFDL despite the challenging circumstances.
