Private equity firm Astorg is advancing plans to divest its stake in IQ-EQ, a European IT services and digital transformation firm, as a consortium of lenders finalizes a €2 billion debt facility to support a potential buyout. The move signals growing investor appetite for mid-market tech assets in Europe.
- Astorg is preparing to sell its stake in IQ-EQ for approximately €1.2 billion.
- A €2 billion debt financing package has been finalized to support a potential leveraged buyout.
- IQ-EQ generated €650 million in revenue in 2025 and operates across 14 European countries.
- The debt facility carries a 5.5% fixed interest rate and a seven-year maturity.
- The transaction is expected to close by mid-2026, pending regulatory approval.
- The deal reflects growing investor interest in Europe’s mid-market technology sector.
Astorg is actively preparing the sale of its controlling stake in IQ-EQ, a pan-European provider of IT infrastructure and cloud solutions, with a targeted transaction value of approximately €1.2 billion. The exit comes as a group of institutional lenders, including major European banks and debt funds, has completed the structuring of a €2 billion debt financing package aimed at supporting a leveraged buyout of the company. This financing, expected to be drawn in two tranches, will be used to fund the acquisition and support IQ-EQ’s ongoing digital expansion and client acquisition efforts. The proposed transaction marks a significant development in Europe’s private equity market, where large-scale, asset-light tech acquisitions are gaining momentum amid rising demand for digital transformation services. IQ-EQ, which operates across 14 countries and reported over €650 million in revenue in 2025, has become a core holding for Astorg since its initial investment in 2018. The firm’s exit strategy reflects a broader trend of PE firms cashing out from tech-enabled services platforms that have achieved strong operational performance and geographic reach. The €2 billion debt facility is structured with a 5.5% fixed interest rate and a seven-year maturity, with covenants tied to EBITDA growth and customer retention metrics. The financing is backed by a syndicate of 12 lenders, including two Nordic investment banks and a leading German private credit firm. Market participants believe the transaction could close by mid-2026, pending regulatory approvals and final due diligence. The outcome will impact not only the company’s leadership and workforce—estimated at 12,000 employees—but also the broader European tech ecosystem, where such transactions often catalyze consolidation among regional IT service providers. The successful closing would also underscore investor confidence in Europe’s mid-market technology sector despite macroeconomic headwinds.