JOHN MACDOUGALL
Edleun Group Inc. is buying six additional childcare centres in Alberta for a total of $7.1 million.
The company, which is focused on consolidating Canada's fragmented childcare industry, will have 17 centres in the province once the transactions close. Edleun estimates there are 8,800 childcare centres across Canada and it aims to become a larger player through acquisitions of new and existing operations.
The latest transactions are expected to close within 30 days.
Edleun will acquire both the real-estate and childcare operations at five of the six locations. It will also have an option to buy the land at the sixth location, which is under a long-term lease.