Street Talk

US PE buys strategic interest in Sydney childcare business

Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport

May 14, 2025 – 1.29pm

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A California-headquartered private equity firm has acquired a strategic interest in Sydney early childhood education business Young Academics, putting the sector back in focus for deal makers after a long winter.

Street Talk has confirmed Seidler Equity Partners, Australia, is now in possession of a minority stake in the childcare operator, which runs 40 centres across Greater Sydney.

Sarah Thompson has co-edited Street Talk since 2009, specialising in private equity, investment banking, M&A and equity capital markets stories. Prior to that, she spent 10 years in London as a markets and M&A reporter at Bloomberg and Dow Jones.

Kanika Sood is a journalist based in Sydney who writes for the Street Talk column.

Emma Rapaport is a co-editor of the Street Talk column. Prior to that, she was a markets reporter at The Australian Financial Review.