Stirling Square Capital- owned special educational needs provider Outcomes First Group (OFG) has mandated Rothschild to run a sale of the business in the coming months, our sister publication, EducationInvestor has reported.

The sale is expected to be launched in the summer, EducationInvestor revealed citing two unnamed sources familiar with the process.

Last year, private equity firm Stirling Square Capital Partners attempted to sell OFG. The provider of fostering and special educational needs services was marketed off an EBITDA of over £110 million, aiming for a valuation in the 11-14x range, as reported.

Due to concerns about the bankability of the fostering service, which constituted approximately 30-40% of the business, infrastructure funds showed limited interest, HealthInvestor sources explained at the time.

Bidders such as ICG, Mubadala, Civitas, and Onex participated in the OFG auction. However, Stirling Capital’s attempt to exit OFG was ultimately abandoned. Instead, Stirling Square decided to separate OFG and the National Fostering Group (NFG), creating two distinct entities—one focused on special educational needs and care services and the other on fostering services.

OFG’s brands Acorn Education and Care – a provider of specialist education for children and young people with social, emotional, mental health or learning needs – and Options Autism – a provider of education services for those with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties – continued to be operated by OFG.

It is unclear if and when Stirling might launch the sale of the fostering unit, the EducationInvestor item stated.