Nido Education signs agreement to acquire 9 early education services
A wholly owned subsidiary of Nido Education Limited (ASX: NDO) has entered into a Business Sale Agreement for an early education services acquisition of nine services operated by Edge Early Learning. The company announced the agreement on 23 October 2026.
The transaction is Nido’s first acquisition under its strategy to selectively acquire services, as outlined in its ASX announcement of 27 April 2026. It moves that stated strategy into execution.
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Acquisitions complement the greenfield incubation strategy
Two avenues for growth
According to the company, the transaction complements Nido’s established greenfield incubation strategy, which “remains a core component of the Company’s growth model”. Greenfield incubation refers to developing new centres from the ground up.
- Greenfield incubation: established and a core component of the growth model
- Selective acquisitions: a newer path that broadens avenues for growth
By combining greenfield development with selective acquisitions of established services, Nido says it is maintaining its focus on quality, operational performance and long-term shareholder value.
What the nine services offer
The company stated that the nine services provide an opportunity to build on established early learning communities and support continuity for children and families. They also aim to create an environment in which educators can deliver quality education.
How early childhood education acquisitions work
Building a centre from scratch, known as a greenfield development, involves securing a site, constructing or fitting out the facility, and then enrolling families. Acquiring an operating service means taking over a centre that is already running.
In general terms, an acquired service can bring established operations, while a greenfield centre must build occupancy over time. This is a general industry distinction, and the announcement does not attach any operating figures to the nine services.
The lease assignment condition also links to why site continuity matters. Services typically operate from a specific premises, so the transfer of the relevant leases is part of keeping an existing centre running.
Next steps and conditions to completion
Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and the assignment of the relevant leases. Nido will provide a further update on completion.
The price and funding for the nine services were not disclosed, though the June NAB facility extension added $10 million of funding and lifted the bank guarantee facility to $17.5 million.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Acquirer | Wholly owned subsidiary of Nido Education Limited |
| Vendor/operator | Edge Early Learning |
| Services | 9 early education services |
| Agreement | Business Sale Agreement |
| Conditions | Regulatory approvals; assignment of the relevant leases |
| Price/funding | Not disclosed |
Nido stated it will continue to assess further opportunities that align with its operating model, meet its investment criteria and support the company’s long-term growth objectives. It said it will maintain a disciplined approach to investment, quality and execution.
For readers wanting to see how trading conditions are shaping the company’s expansion, our detailed coverage of Nido’s half-year results covers the withdrawn FY26 earnings target, margin compression and the $18 million of facility headroom earmarked for the acquisition pipeline.
Founded in 2021, Nido Education Limited is a national owner, operator and manager of long day early childhood education and care services, operating under the Nido Early School brand.
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