Spain 
Italy 
Greece 
Transaction / Assets Permira Acquires European University for €770 millionSeller LaureateBuyer Permira€ MM 770
Permira Acquires European University for €770 million
13 December 2018
The transaction involves two universities in Portugal, the European University and the Portuguese Institute of Administration and Marketing, and three in Spain, located in Madrid, Valencia and the Canary Islands.
The private equity fund Permira acquired the group of institutions belonging to the European University, which comprises about five campuses in Spain and Portugal, from Laureate for 770 million euros.
The transaction involves two universities in Portugal, the European University and the Portuguese Institute of Administration and Marketing (IPAM), and three in Spain, located in Madrid, Valencia and the Canary Islands, according to El Economista (free access/content in Spanish).
The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019, pending regulatory approval. The US-based group Laureate Education, which owns the largest private network of higher education institutions in the world, sold the assets to focus on other strategic areas, mainly larger markets.
Six other funds, in addition to Permira, sought to acquire the assets, including CVC and Bridgepoint, both of which offered around 700 million euros. The Laureate group was advised by Goldman Sachs.
Original Story: Economia Online – Mariana Espírito Santo
Translation: Richard Turner