Navis sells Guardian Early Learning to Partners Group

Navis bought the business from Wolseley Private Equity in 2013 at a valuation of A$120 million. During the holding period, the GP concentrated on building Guardian's business in Australia and other markets. At the time of the investment, the company provided education and care to 5,700 children per day; now it handles more than 10,000. It is also Australia's leading provider of company-sponsored childcare services.

Partners Group plans to support Guardian's management team as it pursues its growth strategy. The company plan to construct 10 new childcare centers in Australia; those new centers are expected to begin operations over the next year. Cyrus Driver, managing director and Asia head of Partners Group, will join Guardian's board.

"Early childhood has been proven to be a crucial stage for a child's learning and development and innovators like Guardian provide an essential service in society. With its strong reputation, Guardian has a great opportunity to continue its robust growth and provide more children across Australia with the benefits of high-quality early-years education," Driver said in a statement.

Navis has made several exits in the last half-year. In August, the GP sold Singapore-based hazardous waste management firm ECO Industrial Environmental Engineering to Beijing Capital Group for S$246 million ($179 million), and in December it agreed to sell Thailand-based poultry producer Golden Foods Siam to Brazil's BRF for $360 million.

The Guardian transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016. Navis is being advised by Fort Street Advisors and Herbert Smith Freehills.

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• Topics
• Australasia
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• Buyout
• Buyouts
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• Australia
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• Navis Management
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