Karim Tabet, Providence Equity Partners’ Europe head, notes that AI is opening new opportunities in communications, live events and education. The firm, which usually targets businesses with enterprise values under $1.5 billion, sees AI‑driven content creation add value to live events and create a talent gap in education.

Tabet says the exit market is still split between top assets and the rest, but a backlog of deals and fund‑raising pressure are pushing sellers to be more realistic. Providence’s last ten exits have lifted enterprise values by nearly 7× on average, and the firm has delivered about 24 % of NAV per year to LPs since early 2024.

Recent deals include the sale of Mas Orange stake to Orange for €4.25 billion and a majority stake in SCG, a UK connectivity provider, to support AI infrastructure. The firm also backs live‑event players such as Hyve, Closer Still Media, Ambassador Theatre Group and Superstruct Entertainment, arguing that physical scarcity drives ticket demand amid digital fatigue.

While AI amplifies digital content, Tabet believes the real‑world experience remains essential. He notes that virtual concerts like ABBA’s Voyage show the blending of physical and digital, but the true value will depend on how much audiences are willing to pay for the live show versus the virtual alternative.