Cinven has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio Group (UAX), one of Spain’s largest private higher education institutions, from CVC Funds.

The deal will be completed in partnership with UAX founder Jesús Núñez and Mubadala Investment Company, who will both reinvest in the business.

Founded in 1993 and based in Madrid, UAX operates across undergraduate, postgraduate, and vocational programmes in disciplines including health sciences, engineering, business, and education. The group has built a strong reputation for academic excellence and corporate partnerships, combining in-person and online learning with a practical, career-oriented model.

Under CVC’s ownership since 2019, UAX has undergone a major transformation, growing its student body from 8,000 to 35,000 and investing over €350m in new campuses in Madrid and Málaga. The group has expanded its academic offering into business and technology programmes and launched flagship partnerships with Rafa Nadal and LaLiga.

Cinven plans to support UAX’s next growth phase, focusing on domestic campus expansion, international market entry, and the development of new technology-enabled learning models. The firm cited strong underlying growth in Spain’s private higher education sector, driven by favourable demographics, international student demand, and lifelong learning trends.

CVC’s six-year investment helped professionalise the university’s operations, strengthen research capabilities, and establish a scalable platform for future growth.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

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