Deal Details

School of Rock Is Acquired by YEB

Consumer

School of Rock, a portfolio company of Sterling, sale to YEB

Summary

School of Rock, LLC (“School of Rock” or the “Company”), a portfolio company of Sterling Partners (“Sterling”), has been acquired by Youth Enrichment Brands (“YEB”). The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Baird served as the exclusive financial advisor to School of Rock on this transaction.

About

School of Rock is a leading franchisor in youth enrichment, offering the most revolutionary music education program in the world. The Company's patented, results-driven teaching method combines live shows, group band practices and individual instruction, making School of Rock the ultimate music school for kids and adults. School of Rock will teach over 180,000 students in 2023 in over 340 locations in 15 countries. School of Rock is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts.

Sterling Partners is a diversified investment management platform founded in 1983. The firm started with four young entrepreneurs, who went on to build one of Chicago's most prominent private equity firms. Today, the firm has expanded beyond its core private equity practice into several other investment strategies. Complementing its institutional fund practice, Sterling invests in a wide variety of companies in various stages of growth – from early-stage, high-growth businesses to mature, profitable companies – on a deal-by-deal basis. These investments cross several industries, and the firm makes control, non-control and preferred equity investments. Sterling adds value to its portfolio companies and the founders with whom it partners with its entrepreneurial roots, deep domain expertise, focus on transformational growth and access to world-class executive talent. Sterling is based in Chicago, Illinois.

YEB is the nation’s leading youth activities platform, offering camps, sports leagues, swim classes and music education to over 950,000 children annually. YEB’s mission is to help every kid discover and develop lifelong passions through its leading brands including i9 Sports, US Sports Camps, SafeSplash Swim School and School of Rock. YEB is headquartered in San Rafael, California.

Consumer

School of Rock, a portfolio company of Sterling, sale to YEB