EQT acquired AcadeMedia in June 2010 with a value creation plan centered around accelerating growth through green-field roll-out, improved utilization of the installed base of schools by additional /extension of educational programs and acquisitions of both single unit schools and larger complementary platforms inside and outside of existing markets. Furthermore, the focus was on implementing a leading quality model and sharing of best practices across the organization to ensure realization of scale benefits.

During EQT’s ownership period, the company almost quadrupled in size and transformed from a domestic Swedish player into the largest and most diversified independent education provider in Northern Europe, with approximately EUR 1 billion of revenues and operating more than 600 schools and units across Sweden, Norway and Germany. In addition to growth, AcadeMedia developed a market leading quality model which is used as a tool to measure and benchmark units across all relevant quality aspects in order to constantly improve the operations.

To AcadeMedia.

Key events during EQT’s ownership

• Build-up of a comprehensive and proprietary quality model with improved student results and satisfaction over time
• Transformational acquisitions of Pysslingen (Sweden), Hermods (Sweden), Espira (Norway) and Joki (Germany), in addition to multiple small / medium sized bolt-on acquisitions
• Greenfield roll-out of more than 50 new units
• Repositioning from a domestic Swedish school provider to the largest and most diversified independent educational provider in Northern Europe