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In 2023, Marcos Durán Foix launched Relevian with the support of 14 investors, including Heritage Holding, Evolutiq, Alza Capital, Aurica Search Fund, Kinderhook Partners, Atiud Capital Center, and George Jankovic, among others. After more than two years of extensive search, Relevian has announced the acquisition of 80% of the share capital of Hispania Educación y Comunicación and International Students Accommodation Valencia (hereinafter, “Hispania”), one of the world’s most prestigious Spanish-language schools for international students. Lead investors were Heritage Search Partners, Kinderhook Partners, Martell Capital Partners, and Aurica participated in the transaction—its fourth investment and its first in Spain—following the acquisitions of CSP (security services for major events), Alfavet (pet nutraceuticals), and SOS (software distributor). The buyout was financed by Banco Sabadell. The founders retain a minority stake and will continue in management to ensure a smooth transition and business continuity.
Founded in Valencia and backed by more than 20 years of experience, Hispania has cemented its reputation as a leading academic institution. The school collaborates with a network of over 600 international recruitment agencies and welcomes more than 3,000 foreign students each year. The company maintains a gross margin above 40% and achieved a 17% compound annual growth rate between 2018 and 2024. Sales are approximately €5M and EBITDA is around €2M.
“The education sector, bolstered by the global rise in demand for Spanish-language learning and the growing appeal of studying in Spain, offers strong long-term growth and profitability prospects. The Hispania transaction reflects our belief in the SF model as a vehicle capable of attracting talent and strengthening well-established companies. We are confident that this new chapter will allow Hispania to accelerate its growth, and we trust that Marcos will lead the company to the next level,” said Ricardo Velilla, Investment Director at Aurica Capital.
For his part, Marcos Durán, founder of Relevian and incoming CEO of Hispania, noted that his aim is “to scale Hispania’s model without losing its essence. Our ambition is to reinforce its position as a benchmark in Spanish-language education and expand its presence in the domestic market.”
M&A: Invala Capital y Borealis / Legal (buyer): Pinsent Masons / Legal (vendor): Deloitte / DD: KPMG / Debt: Kenta Capital
