The deal values Universidad Europea, which operates 12 campuses across Spain and Portugal, at more than 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion) including debt, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Permira will remain a minority stakeholder.

EQT and Permira both declined to comment.

($1 = 0.9232 euros)

(Reporting by Andres Gonzalez; editing by Jason Neely)

By Andres Gonzalez and Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro