Welcome To HEG’s Inner Circle eNews A Bi-Weekly Recap of Essential Reading For The Private School Sector |
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Welcome to the 188th edition of HEG’s Inner Circle Private School eNews, where Halladay Education Group shares key insights into the latest investment activity shaping the global private education sector. HEG MARKET INTELLIGENCE Global operators continue to lead the way. Cognita — now managing over 90 schools across 21 countries — has expanded into Austria and added its 18th school in Chile, demonstrating the persistent cross-border interest of institutional buyers. In the UK, new for-profit group QED Schools is actively acquiring independent schools, while over 100 schools have closed since VAT was introduced on independent school fees — speeding up distressed sales and mergers. However, deals sometimes fall through: community opposition forced St Lawrence College to cancel its planned merger with Dover College. Meanwhile, PE-backed consolidation remains active in post-secondary education, with Atlantic Street Capital merging CampusWorks and Dynamic Campus to increase scale. For school owners and buyers, the message is clear: strategic acquirers are well-funded and acting quickly — professional transaction advice has never been more crucial. Call To Action: If you’re considering a sale, merger, acquisition, or recapitalization in 2026, now is the time to assess your positioning before the process begins. Let’s schedule a confidential 30-minute call to benchmark your institution against current buyer criteria and identify the value drivers that influence valuation and deal certainty. Reach out to us for a discreet discussion. |
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FEATURED OPPORTUNITIES 1) REPUTABLE & PROFITABLE K-12 DAY & INTERNATIONAL BOARDING SCHOOL (EASTERN CANADA) REVIEWING OFFER Established co-ed school with 50+ years of history, 300+ students, and near-100% university placement. FY26F: $8.2M revenue / $2.0M adjusted EBITDAR. Well-located, multi-site urban campus with ~63% enrollment growth capacity. Buyer value: durable brand, outcomes-driven positioning, diversified delivery (day + boarding), and clear pathway to scale with measured capex and enrollment management. More Info |
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2) PREMIER CANADIAN FILM & DIGITAL ARTS COLLEGE SIGNED LOI High-recognition creative media institution with programs designed and taught by award-winning industry professionals. Buyer value: differentiated curriculum, brand credibility with students and employers, and strong content-to-career alignment that supports pricing power and repeat intakes. Growth levers: program expansion in high-demand digital disciplines, partnerships with studios/employers, and scalable hybrid delivery where appropriate. Status: reviewing offers. More Info |
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3) PREMIUM EUROPEAN SUMMER CAMP PLATFORM REVIEWING OFFER Project Alpine: 50+ years, 350,000 alumni, and participants from 60 countries. FY26F: US$7.2M revenue / $1.2M EBITDA. Buyer value: brand equity, high-margin enrollments, multi-country programming, and repeat/cross-sell potential across channels. Growth levers include extended seasons, new locations, and structured partnerships. More Info |
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4) MARKET-LEADING CANADIAN MASSAGE THERAPY COLLEGE SIGNED LOI Western Canada platform with 30+ years of operations and strong graduate outcomes. FY25F: $2.0M revenue / $380K EBITDA (18%), scaling to $2.7M / $771K (29%) by FY28F. 100% domestic enrollment, regulatory protection, and a trusted brand. Buyer value: recession-resilient demand, strong cash flow, and 2x EBITDA growth through capacity, scheduling, and program optimization. More Info |
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5) U.S. FOR-PROFIT K-12 BUYER (VOUCHER/ESA STATES) Global operator seeking acquisitions of for-profit day schools in voucher/ESA markets. Target: $500K–$5M EBITDA, strong academics, and clear growth. Flexible deal structures, including real estate options, are suitable for single sites or small groups. Priority: FL, TX, AZ, GA (plus IN, IA, OH, NC, UT, WV, AL, LA, OK, NH, TN). Confidential, founder-friendly, proven integration. More info |
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6) ACCREDITED CANADIAN DESIGN SCHOOL WITH STRONG FINANCIALS Leading career college in fashion, interior, and technical design, with 98% domestic enrollment and modular hybrid programming. Forecast: >$2.0M revenue and $615K EBITDA by 2028. Buyer value: turnkey operation, breadth of curriculum, and expanded registrations through flexible delivery. Growth levers include new certificates, corporate partnerships, and geographic reach through hybrid. Attractive to strategics seeking creative-education exposure with disciplined margins. More Info |
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7) REGULATED HEALTHCARE CAREER COLLEGE GROUP (WESTERN CANADA) Market-leading, multi-campus healthcare education platform. FY25 anchors at $14.5M in revenue and $3.4M in EBITDA (23% margin), scaling asset-light to $19.3M and $5.9M by FY27F (30% margin), demonstrating strong earnings momentum and growth visibility. Programs include Practical Nursing (LPN) and allied health. Underwriting rests on: (i) approved programs with domestic financial-eligibility status, (ii) defensible practicum access, and (iii) predominantly domestic tuition revenues. More Info |
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8) PROFITABLE TRANSPORT CANADA–APPROVED FTU + AVIATION CAREER COLLEGE (WESTERN CANADA) Scaled, asset-backed aviation training platform: Transport Canada–approved FTU within a provincially accredited career college with DLI and Student Aid eligibility. FY26F: $3.45M revenue, ~335 students, normalized EBITDA ~$910K (FY24–FY25F avg), expanding to ~$1.05M at 30%+ margins. Leased airside campus; 11-aircraft fleet (~$2.6M), simulator, and maintenance operations create a defensible regulatory/operating moat. More Info |
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COGNITA ENTERS AUSTRIAN MARKET WITH NEW SCHOOL NEAR SALZBURG St. Gilgen International School, near Salzburg, joins Cognita's global community. Read more |
| ALPHA SCHOOLS TO ACQUIRE GODSTOWE SCHOOL The move marks a significant change for the independent preparatory school. Read more |
| LIGHTHOUSE TAKING OVER GURUGRAM PRESHOOL KKR-Controlled EuroKids Operator Lighthouse strengthens its early childhood offerings Read more |
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COLUMBIA COLLEGE AND QUEST ANNOUNCE THEY ARE COLLABORATING Partners outline degrees and allied health programs for proposed new university. Read more PREP NETWORK ACQUIRES COAST 2 COAST PREPS Inaugural acquisition creates youth basketball content and premium events platform. Read more CAMPUSWORKS AND DYNAMIC CAMPUS MERGE TO EXPAND IMPACT CampusWorks, a leading provider of services, and support that improve organizational effectiveness. Read more COGNITA EXPANDS LATIN AMERICAN FOOTPRINT The English Institute in Providencia, a commune of Santiago, Chile, has joined Cognita. Read more QUICKSTART ACQUIRES IRONCIRCLE Expands AI-Powered Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Readiness. Read more ST LAWRENCE COLLEGE PULLS OUT OF MERGER Repton Schools hopes St Lawrence College will not allow its assets to move to the for-profit sector. Read more MIAMI SCHOOL MADNESS What happens when a wave of wealthy newcomers arrives in a city with an already strained private school system? Read more WARMINSTER SCHOLL TO JOIN QED GROUP Warminster School will be the second IB school in the new QED Schools Group. Read more |
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ABOUT HEG’S M&A ADVISORY SERVICES |
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Halladay Education Group (HEG) is a premier M&A advisory firm specializing exclusively in the private education sector across North America and internationally. With over 30 years of experience, HEG has successfully led the sale, acquisition, and recapitalization of a diverse range of educational institutions, including K-12 private schools, boarding and Montessori schools, early childhood centers, ESL programs, career colleges, and higher education platforms. We are a trusted advisor to private equity firms, institutional investors, operators, and family offices pursuing strategic growth, as well as school owners seeking full or partial exits. Backed by deep sector expertise, an extensive proprietary database of qualified buyers, and full-cycle transaction support, HEG has earned a reputation as one of the most active and respected firms in the field. To confidentially discuss your institution’s strategic options—whether a sale, merger, acquisition, or financing—and how emerging trends may impact your outlook, contact us at 1-800-687-1402. Please view our Corporate Brochure. info@halladayeducationgroup.com | 1-800-687-1492 | www.buyingandsellingschools.com |
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