Edge Early Learning secures $25m investment to fund future growth

Queensland based early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider Edge Early Learning has secured $25 million of funding from HEAL Partners, an Australia-based private equity fund specialising in Health, Education and Lifestyle sector investments.

The funding is intended to support Edge’s continued growth in South-East Queensland where it currently operates 25 centres and its imminent entry into new markets as it pursues its growth strategy. 

The investment will take HEAL’s direct shareholding in Edge to more than 35 per cent. 

“Our business model of both developing and operating premium early learning childcare centres has proven successful and we are now looking to materially accelerate our growth plans,” said Edge Founder and Chairman Mark Evans. 

Mr Evans, who is also a partner at HEAL Partners added, “We have secured a number of new opportunities that will see us double our existing footprint to 50 centres. We are now targeting 100 plus centres in the next two to three years”. 

HEAL Partner Martin Robinson said HEAL is “very pleased to continue our partnership with Edge and to support them in their next exciting phase of growth”. 

The fundraising and capital reorganisation was also supported by existing shareholder and property partner Centennial Property Group (CPG) who have secured an Edge board seat with Phil Latham, Senior Partner at Navis Capital and former Chairman of Guardian Early Learning Group appointed as their representative.