Key Takeaways
- • Phoenix Equity Partners acquires stake in Minerva Virtual Academy, a UK-based online independent school serving 1,500+ students aged 11–18, founded in 2021 by CEO Hugh Viney and positioned as the country's fastest-growing school.
- • McDermott Will & Schulte represented MVA founders on the transaction, with deal size falling within Phoenix's typical £10M–£80M equity commitment range per investment.
- • MVA operates an award-winning, Department for Education accredited model blending live teaching, independent study, and one-to-one mentoring, targeting families requiring educational flexibility and geographic mobility.
- • Strategic expansion underway: MVA launched a Global Education Advisory Board and entered a partnership with Varsity Nine, a US-based elite sports management and scholarship pathway specialist, signaling international growth ambitions.
- • M&A and advisory support validates edtech scale-up trajectory in the UK online education sector, with institutional-grade legal and financial backing supporting platform consolidation and market positioning.
Summary
Phoenix Equity Partners has invested in Minerva Virtual Academy, a rapidly expanding UK online independent school, in a transaction advised by global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte. The investment represents a significant institutional backing of the edtech sector, with Phoenix—a mid-market private equity firm typically deploying £10M to £80M per deal—acquiring a stake in MVA, which serves over 1,500 students aged 11 to 18.
Founded in 2021 by CEO Hugh Viney, Minerva Virtual Academy operates an award-winning, Department for Education accredited online learning platform designed for students seeking educational flexibility. The school's model combines live teaching, independent study, and personalized one-to-one mentoring, positioning itself as a structured alternative to traditional schooling. This approach is particularly valuable for internationally mobile families and students with non-standard learning requirements who require geographic continuity and educational support irrespective of location.
McDermott's transaction team, led by partners Jason Zemmel and Jamie Burgess, managed the deal alongside private equity associates Kieran Sargent, Nikita Panchal, and Tom Johnson, with tax support from partner Alex Jupp and associate Lucy Foulkes. The legal advisory underscores institutional-grade structuring of the transaction.
Beyond the Phoenix investment, MVA has announced parallel strategic initiatives signaling accelerated growth. The company launched a Global Education Advisory Board comprising external strategic advisors and thought leaders to guide development in technology, student support, and operational expansion. Additionally, MVA entered a strategic partnership with Varsity Nine, a US-based leader in elite sports management and scholarship pathways, expanding its value proposition into international scholarship access and athletic development—a key differentiator for affluent families and student-athletes seeking UK-based education with US college placement support.
These moves collectively position MVA as a scaled, venture-backed online education operator with institutional backing, international advisory networks, and strategic partnerships supporting market penetration and revenue diversification across the UK and US education markets.
Founded in 2021 by CEO Hugh Viney, Minerva Virtual Academy operates an award-winning, Department for Education accredited online learning platform designed for students seeking educational flexibility. The school's model combines live teaching, independent study, and personalized one-to-one mentoring, positioning itself as a structured alternative to traditional schooling. This approach is particularly valuable for internationally mobile families and students with non-standard learning requirements who require geographic continuity and educational support irrespective of location.
McDermott's transaction team, led by partners Jason Zemmel and Jamie Burgess, managed the deal alongside private equity associates Kieran Sargent, Nikita Panchal, and Tom Johnson, with tax support from partner Alex Jupp and associate Lucy Foulkes. The legal advisory underscores institutional-grade structuring of the transaction.
Beyond the Phoenix investment, MVA has announced parallel strategic initiatives signaling accelerated growth. The company launched a Global Education Advisory Board comprising external strategic advisors and thought leaders to guide development in technology, student support, and operational expansion. Additionally, MVA entered a strategic partnership with Varsity Nine, a US-based leader in elite sports management and scholarship pathways, expanding its value proposition into international scholarship access and athletic development—a key differentiator for affluent families and student-athletes seeking UK-based education with US college placement support.
These moves collectively position MVA as a scaled, venture-backed online education operator with institutional backing, international advisory networks, and strategic partnerships supporting market penetration and revenue diversification across the UK and US education markets.
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