Per Andersson and Nicklas Thorstenson
Entrepreneurs Per Andersson and Nicklas Thorstenson founded the recruitment and staffing company Jobway in 2007, based in Stockholm. During their journey with Jobway, they developed Studier.se as a side project to expand the company's offerings in skills provision.
Today, Studier.se, located in Gothenburg, is a marketplace that gathers courses and education programs from various providers in one place. It has become a digital hub that makes it easier for people to find the right education, whether they are seeking a university program, high school education, or professional development through vocational training.
"We've always had the idea of daring to try new things and see what takes off, and Studier.se is a result of that", says Per Andersson.
The thought of selling the company primarily stemmed from the desire to allocate more resources to developing the digital platform and the belief that a change of ownership would provide better conditions for expansion.
After seeking advice within their own network and searching for financial advisors via Google, they arranged an initial meeting with five different players in corporate finance. Eventually, they chose AHL Partners.
"There were several factors that played a role, but for us, it was important to collaborate with a financial advisor with an office in Gothenburg, as we realized there would be a lot of meetings, and we wanted to meet in person to ensure an efficient process", explains Per Andersson.
"Furthermore, AHL had completed many transactions, which built trust, and we saw it as an advantage that AHL had worked with companies operating in the digital sector. They had the experience and connections with interesting companies, which could expedite the deal. The trust that was established in the meeting with AHL was decisive", continues Per Andersson.
Finding a new owner is a comprehensive process with various criteria to fulfill from both sides. For the selling party, there are many emotions involved when looking for a new home for a business that they have invested so much time and energy into, with all the ups and downs that come with running a business.
"AHL helped us find a new long-term and strategic main owner through a professional process. AHL packaged our deal clearly and, thanks to their experience and commitment, brought us together and completed the sale to AcadeMedia, a very good deal benefiting both parties", says Per Andersson.
"My advice to others considering selling a business is to choose a financial advisor with a solid track record in business sales, one that can showcase the transactions the company has worked on historically. It's important to do some research beforehand on how transactions are conducted so that you have some understanding of that world", concludes Per Andersson.