Private equity firm Partners Group is considering selling a stake in the International Schools Partnership (ISP), a UK-based global network of private schools valued at up to €5bn ($5.38bn), according to a report by Reuters.
The report cites unnamed sources familiar with the matter as highlighting that ISP’s multi-billion euro value reflects both its strong annual earnings of more than €250m and growing demand for education assets.
ISP, founded by Partners Group in 2013, operates 88 schools across 24 countries, primarily focused on primary and middle-year students. With a student body of over 80,000, the network has expanded rapidly, benefiting from the stable, counter-cyclical demand typical of the education sector. Partners Group is expected to formally initiate an auction process in the first half of next year, contingent upon revenue trends and enrolment numbers, according to two Reuters sources, although a sale is not guaranteed and is dependent on market conditions
Representatives for Partners Group declined to comment, while ISP has not responded to inquiries.
The education sector continues to attract substantial private equity interest, with investors drawn by its predictable revenue streams and resilience through economic fluctuations. Canadian investment giant OMERS acquired a 25% stake in ISP three years ago, then valuing the company at €1.9bn, including debt. In another high-profile deal, Sweden’s EQT AB, in partnership with Neuberger Berman Private Markets and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, recently acquired Nord Anglia Education in a $14.5bn deal.
