Taaleem signs deal to acquire 95% stake in Kids First Group
19 June 2025 09:38
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)Taaleem Holdings, a leading K–12 premium education provider in the UAE and a Dubai Financial Market-listed company, has signed a deal to acquire a 95% stake in Kids First Group Limited (KFG), a prominent early-years education network operating across the GCC.In a stock market disclosure on Thursday, Taaleem said the acquisition will be funded through a mix of equity and debt and is expected to close by the fourth quarter of its 2024/25 financial year, subject to regulatory approvals. The cost of the transaction was not disclosed in the statement. 'This strategic move reinforces our defensive positioning and our commitment to scalable, high-quality education in the region,' said Alan Williamson, Chief Executive Officer of Taaleem, in the filing.KFG operates over 30 premium nurseries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha under well-known brands such as Redwood Montessori Nursery, Odyssey Nursery, Willow Children's Nursery, Ladybird Nursery, and Children's Oasis Nursery. The group serves over 5,000 students and employs more than 1,000 staff.Taaleem said the acquisition allows it to strategically expand into the rapidly growing early learning education sector, complementing its existing portfolio of 32 schools — which includes 10 premium private schools and 22 government-partnership institutions. Its premium schools span international curricula: five IB schools, four British curriculum schools, and one American curriculum school.According to the company, KFG's scalable model and profitability will immediately enhance Taaleem's earnings and cash flow. Post-acquisition, KFG will operate as a standalone vertical within the Taaleem group, with its founder — who retains a 5% stake — continuing as CEO alongside the existing management team.Taaleem, which was listed on DFM in November 2022, currently has a market capitalisation of Dh3.6 billion. It is indirectly owned by the Government of Dubai, with National Bonds and Knowledge Fund holding stakes of 22.5% and 13.7% respectively.
The company said it would hold a dedicated virtual investor call to provide further details on the transaction.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
20 hours ago
- Zawya
Taaleem acquires GCC-focused KFG to expand network
Dubai – Taaleem Holdings has signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire 95% shareholding in Kids First Group Limited (KFG), an early-learning premium education provider in the GCC. The acquisition is expected to boost Taaleem's expansion into the high-growth early-learning segment, offering accretion to both earnings and cash flow, according to a press release. KFG manages a diversified network of 34 nurseries in areas close to business districts and within residential districts in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. It serves more than 5,000 students across multiple leading brands. Subject to regulatory approvals and other pre-completion conditions, the transaction will be fully self-funded through a mix of equity and debt. It is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter (Q4) of Taaleem's financial year (FY)2024/25. Khalid Al Tayer, Chairman of Taaleem, commented: 'This acquisition of Kids First Group represents an important next chapter in Taaleem's growth strategy. By expanding further into the early-learning education segment, we are creating a comprehensive educational pathway that supports children from their earliest stages of development through to K-12 education.' Kamil Najjar, Founder and CEO of KFG, said: 'Together, KFG and Taaleem are committed to setting a new benchmark in early childhood education - preparing children to thrive in an increasingly complex and fast-evolving world, and ensuring they benefit from holistic, world-class learning environments from their earliest years' All Rights Reserved - Mubasher Info © 2005 - 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arabian Business
2 days ago
- Arabian Business
Taaleem gets into early-learning sector with 95% stake acquisition in KFG
UAE's education provider Taaleem Holdings is expanding into the rapidly growing early-learning sector, complementing its existing portfolio of K-12 schools by acquiring a 95 per cent stake in Kids First Group Limited (KFG). KFG is a leading early-learning education provider in the GCC, which operates 34 centrally located nurseries in areas close to business districts and within residential districts in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. It currently serves more than 5,000 students across multiple leading brands and offers four curricula at various price points, enabling the company to offer tailored education solutions that caters to a broad segment of the market. Taaleem expands into early-learning sector The acquisition, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter following regulatory approvals, is expected to deliver a value-accretive expansion for the UAE-listed education provider into the high-growth early-learning segment, offering immediate accretion to both earnings and cashflow. It will be fully self-funded through a mix of equity and debt. Exact financial details of the acquisition were not provided. Khalid Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Taaleem, commented: 'This acquisition of Kids First Group represents an important next chapter in Taaleem's growth strategy. By expanding further into the early-learning education segment, we are creating a comprehensive educational pathway that supports children from their earliest stages of development through to K-12 education. 'Kids First Group's proven track record and diverse network of leading nurseries, which receive strong recognition and demand amongst parents, strongly complement our existing market-leading portfolio, while further diversifying Taaleem's offering. This strategic move reinforces our defensive positioning and our commitment to scalable, high-quality education in the region.' Following the completion of the acquisition, KFG will be run as a standalone vertical within Taaleem's portfolio, with the existing management, including the company's founder – Kamil Najjar, who continues as a shareholder with a 5 per cent stake, working with Taaleem's Board of Directors. Najjar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KFG, added: 'Since its inception, KFG has been built for one unwavering purpose: the well-being and development of the KFG individual child. For over 14 years, this singular mission has guided the Group's growth and success. 'Today marks an exciting new chapter in KFG's journey. Taaleem's strong educational legacy will enable both organisations to enhance educational standards and accelerate the growth of premium early-learning centres. Together, KFG and Taaleem are committed to setting a new benchmark in early childhood education – preparing children to thrive in an increasingly complex and fast-evolving world, and ensuring they benefit from holistic, world-class learning environments from their earliest years.'
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
US defence firms chase European military spending wave
US defence giants, backed by a strong Congressional delegation from Washington, used the Paris Airshow to showcase cutting-edge technologies and court European partners as they seek to tap into rising regional military spending. Many European nations have pledged to significantly increase defence budgets in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and as US President Donald Trump's administration has threatened to scale back military support for the region, reporter Reuters. That tension has been notably absent at this week's Paris Airshow, where US lawmakers and arms manufacturers pledged greater transatlantic partnership as Europe ramps up spending on everything from artillery shells and fighter jets to missile defence systems. "We understand that our allies and partners are a force multiplier, so we are stronger when we are working together," US Senator Jerry Moran, a member of Trump's Republican party, told reporters at the show, the world's largest aerospace and defence gathering. Moran, whose delegation was supporting US weapons makers, said it was in Paris to send a message that the US "is a dependable and reliable partner". The conciliatory tone stands in stark contrast to the Trump administration's recent string of disparaging remarks about Europe and its defence industry. "I think antagonising our allies does not make us stronger," Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen told reporters in Paris, expressing her desire to cement defence relations with Europe. Despite pledges by many European nations to boost military self-sufficiency, the continent remains heavily reliant on US defence manufacturers, said Reuters. For instance, Europe buys American-made fighter jets and missiles from Lockheed Martin, Patriot missile defence systems from Raytheon Technologies and military jets and helicopters built by Boeing. In emerging military areas, like artificial intelligence, drones and satellite constellations, US tech firms like Anduril, Palantir and Elon Musk's SpaceX are far ahead, quotes Reuters. US firms are hoping to press home their advantage as European military spending surges, including through partnerships which are a way to soften any potential diplomatic tensions, delegates said. US drone-maker Anduril and German defence giant Rheinmetall said on Wednesday they will link up to build military drones for European markets, in a sign of Europe leveraging American technology to boost military capabilities. Thomas Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon, said there were no easy replacements for its weapons in Europe and he expected the firm to maintain a long-term footprint on the continent, including through new partnerships. Laliberty said Raytheon was close to announcing a plan to manufacture Stingers — a lightweight air defence missile used by Ukrainian forces against Russia — in Europe. "For immediate needs, Raytheon is well positioned to support the European demand," Laliberty told reporters in Paris. "We have a very bright future here." Boeing, which won a contract from Trump's administration to develop the next-generation F-47 fighter jet this year, said Europe and the US would remain long-term partners despite political wobbles, partly to hold off the Chinese threat. "Nobody can do it themselves - maybe the Chinese can try, but certainly the rest of us, we are going to have to work together," said Turbo Sjogren, Boeing's general manager for government services. "To do otherwise takes too long and will be unaffordable." The chairman of Italian aerospace and defence group Leonardo , Stefano Pontecorvo, added that US participation in some European programmes would be "unavoidable" in coming years due to the defence technologies available to them. European rivals were bullish about their future growth prospects but said budget constraints and a lack of regional alliances were holding back progress, conceding that they would continue to need significant US support. "National sovereignty matters but fragmentation is detrimental. We need to find a way to hit a balance," Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani told reporters on Tuesday. Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power, defence and space at Airbus, said Europe's dependence on the US was "very high".
