Harmon Hall is a large English language school chain in Mexico, with a network of 110 English schools in 63 cities and over 40,000 students in the entire system. Harmon Hall also has two K-12 schools and plans to grow this business line. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) provides Harmon Hall with an equity investment that consists of two components: (i) the purchase of a selling shareholder’s shares and (ii) a capital increase in Harmon Hall to finance the expansion plans of the company over a period of 18 months. IFC will provide a $7.9 million equity investment. 

CAO received a complaint raising concerns about what the complainant feels was unjust dismissal and withheld benefits. The complainant further alleges general unethical and unfair treatment of teachers by school management. This is the seventh complaint regarding Harmon Hall. To view details of the other complaints click on the links below. 

CAO found the complaint eligible for further assessment in March 2014.  During the assessment phase, the parties resolved their differences to their mutual satisfaction through direct interaction of their respective lawyers.  Consequently, CAO concluded its involvement and closed the case.  The process is documented in an Assessment and Conclusion Report