Tag: Universidad Europea de Madrid

CVC to Purchase the Universidad Alfonso X for c. €1.1bn

26 March 2019 – El Confidencial

Following Permira’s acquisition of Universidad Europea de Madrid in December for €770 million, CVC Capital Partners is following suit. The private equity firm is on the verge of completing negotiations to buy Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (UAX), also in Madrid.

The consideration for the operation could amount to €1.1 billion, equivalent to 14 x EBITDA, an investment record that reflects the huge interest in the sector from private equity firms.

The main shareholders of UAX are Jesús Núñez, who owns a 72% stake and Manuel Piñera Gil Delgado, who owns 15.67%, together with his ex-wife María Teresa Gallego García, heir of the alcoholic beverage company DYC. Another 7% is owned by their nephew José Jaime Núñez.

Currently, the most significant investments owned by CVC Capital Partners in Spain are its 20% stake in Naturgy, worth €3.8 billion, which it shares with Corporación Financiera Alba; its 25% share of CLH worth €1 billion; Deoleo, the olive oil company that is facing serious financial problems; and Lecta, formerly Torraspapel.

Jesús Núñez created UAX in 1993 after reaching an agreement with the Town Hall of Villanueva de la Cañada, which granted him the right to use 1 million m2 of land for 75 years on which to build the campus. The university now educates 15,000 students per year, generates a turnover of €104 million and makes a net profit of €45 million.

Original story: El Confidencial (by Agustín Marco)

Translation/Summary: Carmel Drake

Permira Buys Laureate Education’s Portfolio of Universities in Spain & Portugal for €770M

12 December 2018 – El Confidencial

The fund Permira has purchased a portfolio of institutions in Spain and Portugal from the company Laureate Education, which owns the Universidad Europea de Madrid and is a specialist in the university sector, for €770 million.

In a statement, both parties detailed that, in addition to the Madrilenian branch, the transaction includes the campus of the Universidad Europea in Valencia and the Universidad Europa de Canarias, both in Spain, as well as the Portuguese Universidade Europeia in Portugal and the Portuguese Institute of Marketing Administration.

The most senior executive of Laureate, Eilif Serck-Hanssen, said that he feels “very proud of our institutions in Spain and Portugal and of what they have achieved”. Moreover, he considers that under the umbrella of the fund Permira “they will be well positioned and supported” to continue offering high satisfaction to students.

The head of Permira in Spain, Pedro López, said in a statement that these schools “will maintain their focus on high-quality education and on offering new and innovative educational experiences”.

The transaction is expected to be completed during the first half of 2019, although it is subject to approval by the competition authorities and educational agencies.

Original story: El Confidencial 

Translation: Carmel Drake