Munich/London, 29 June 2016 – The AURELIUS Group (ISIN DE000A0JK2A8) has acquired Working Links, a leading provider of welfare and rehabilitation services with operations in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and the Middle East. In the 2015 financial year, Working Links recorded revenues of around €160m. The acquisition was made for an undisclosed sum.

Working Links delivers employability consulting and rehabilitation services across three markets: The aim of the employability services is to improve living conditions through employment, training, and personal skills development. The rehabilitation services aim to reduce reoffending and thus protect the public. The international specialist services include employability consulting services for domestic workers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and also delivery of Job Path, the Irish Government’s flagship programme to support bringing long-term unemployed people back to work in six regions of the Republic of Ireland. This contract with the Irish Department for Social Protection (DSP) is delivered by Working Links in a 50-50 joint venture with FRS Recruitment Services, the Irish national recruitment agency with 35 years of experience in providing career advice.

Since its founding in 2000, Working Links has delivered on more than 200 government contracts and programmes, helping over 350,000 people to return to employment and social inclusion.

Phil Andrew, Chief Executive of Working Links: “Today marks an exciting new chapter in the history of Working Links. The long-term investment from AURELIUS will enable the organisation to accelerate its growth and transformation plans and to continue to provide best-in-class services for socially excluded people.”

“The timing of this investment may seem surprising to some audiences directly following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. However, AURELIUS has always sought investment in complex situations, including turbulent macroeconomic backdrops which often create interesting investment opportunities that fit with our investment model”, said Dr. Dirk Markus, CEO of AURELIUS. “We do not expect detrimental consequences for Working Links due to Great Britain’s upcoming exit from the EU, nor do we expect consequences from Brexit to negatively affect the AURELIUS Group.”