It seemed that nothing could stop the commercial juggernaut that is ABC Learning Centres conquering the childcare world - until last week. Mayhem on the Australian stock market saw an astonishing crash in its share price and its founder directors forced to sell off much of their own shareholdings at knockdown prices, because of lenders' concerns over the company's debts.
Share trading in the largest childcare operator in the world, with more than 2,300 centres in Australia, the UK, the US and New Zealand, was suspended at the company's request while it looked to offload parts of the business. As Nursery World went to press, rumours were rife that private equity firms might swoop if there was a fire sale of ABC's assets, including some of its 120 UK nurseries.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
