EQT, others to acquire Nord Anglia in $14.5bn deal

Nord Anglia Education operates more than 80 schools in 33 countries and educates more than 85,000 students

The deal will see the EQT-led consortium acquire a majority stake in the international schools operator 

Dubai, Oct 22, 2024: Swedish investment firm EQT has formed a consortium with Neuberger Berman Private Markets and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to take ownership of international schools operator Nord Anglia Education for $14.5 billion including debt. 

The consortium will own a majority stake in the international schools organisation, which operates more than 80 schools in 33 countries and educates more than 85,000 students, EQT said on Monday. 

EQT’s involvement with Nord Anglia started with an initial investment in 2008. CPPIB also owns a stake in the London-headquartered education company, while Neuberger Berman and a number of other global institutional investors are new stakeholders. 

EQT’s current Asia team, formerly independently run Baring Private Equity Asia, floated Nord Anglia in a $304 million New York IPO in 2014 before taking it private three years later with CPPIB in a deal that valued it at $4.3 billion. 

EQT is investing in Nord Anglia through its BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII. Its previous funds will exit the portfolio once the transaction is complete. 

CPPIB will reinvest a portion of its stake in support of the acquisition.