LONDON: Brave Bison, a next-generation marketing and technology firm, has entered into a conditional binding agreement to acquire MiniMBA, a leading online marketing education platform, for £19 million ($24.1 million) in a deal that will significantly expand its training and skills division.
The acquisition, announced Tuesday, will see Brave Bison take over The Mini Trading Company Limited, the owner of MiniMBA, from Centaur Media plc. MiniMBA provides MBA-level marketing courses to nearly 6,000 professionals annually and has trained more than 40,000 marketers since its launch. Its clients include major corporations such as Google, McDonald’s, American Express, and Salesforce.
Strategic Expansion for Brave Bison
The deal positions MiniMBA as the foundation of a new skills and capabilities division within Brave Bison, operating independently from its existing marketing and technology services. The move aims to strengthen Brave Bison’s role as a strategic partner for chief marketing officers (CMOs) seeking to upskill their teams.
Oliver Green, executive chairman of Brave Bison, said the acquisition aligns with the growing need for agile, strategic marketing expertise in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
“MiniMBA’s mission is to give CMOs and their teams the common language and strategic foundation they need to thrive,” Green said. “We see significant potential in combining our strengths to reaffirm the power of brand as a global business driver.”
Financial Impact and Funding
The acquisition is expected to boost Brave Bison’s pro forma net revenue by 43% to £36.5 million ($46.3 million) and adjusted EBITDA by 80% to £8.1 million ($10.3 million). Post-acquisition, 47% of operating profits will come from digital content monetization, with the remainder from marketing and technology services.
To fund the deal, Brave Bison raised £13.5 million ($17.1 million) through an oversubscribed share placement, priced at a 4% discount to its May 8 closing price. The company also secured a £10 million ($12.7 million) revolving credit facility from Barclays Bank plc.
Mark Ritson’s Continued Role and Investment
MiniMBA founder Mark Ritson, an award-winning marketing professor, will remain as an instructor and become a top-five shareholder in Brave Bison through a £4 million ($5.1 million) personal investment.
“I have been hugely impressed with Brave Bison’s vision for the future,” Ritson said. “Becoming a significant shareholder and team member is an exciting opportunity.”
Key Deal Highlights
- Purchase price: £19 million, representing 5.3 times MiniMBA’s expected 2025 EBITDA of £3.6 million ($4.6 million).
- Revenue growth: MiniMBA is projected to generate £11 million ($14 million) in net revenue this year.
- Scalability: The platform benefits from recurring revenue and low marginal costs for additional users.
- Market potential: Brave Bison plans to expand MiniMBA through cross-selling, new product development, and international growth.
The acquisition remains subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearance. Cavendish Capital Markets Ltd. acted as financial adviser and broker for the deal.
About Brave Bison
Brave Bison is a London-based marketing and technology firm specializing in digital content, performance marketing, and technology services. The MiniMBA acquisition marks its eighth and largest deal to date.
About MiniMBA
Founded by Mark Ritson, MiniMBA offers flexible, on-demand marketing education designed for professionals. It has been widely recognized as a leading training platform in the industry.