Nursery World - Busy Bees sold to world's biggest daycare provider

Busy Bees nursery and voucher businesses have been bought by ABC Learning Centres, the biggest daycare provider in the world, for 71m in a deal that could be the launching pad for further UK acquisitions by the Australian-based childcare giant. ABC, which has also recently swallowed up more childcare businesses in the US and now has 2,320 settings worldwide, said the Busy Bees voucher operation was 'a new business segment' that could be applied 'across the global childcare market'.

ABC, which has also recently swallowed up more childcare businesses in the US and now has 2,320 settings worldwide, said the Busy Bees voucher operation was 'a new business segment' that could be applied 'across the global childcare market'.

Eddy Groves, the chief executive of ABC, indicated that the purchase of Busy Bees - the UK's sixth largest nursery chain, with 46 settings - was 'a starting point for further expansion into the fragmented UK market and throughout Europe'.

Mr Groves told a press conference, 'We have been taking definite steps to enter into the UK childcare sector for some time, building on our experience in the US.' He described the Lichfield-based chain as 'a well-established company whose committed and experienced management team will remain in place following the acquisition'.

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