Læringsverkstedet Gruppen AS has acquired Pilke päiväkodit Oy

September 2020 — The leading Finnish early childhood education services provider Pilke päiväkodit Oy has been acquired by Norway-based Læringsverkstedet Gruppen AS. Following the acquisition, Læringsverkstedet will be the largest daycare group in the Nordics and one of the largest globally, with operations in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Dubai and Latvia.

Læringsverkstedet is a family-owned early childhood education services provider. The Group manages more than 230 daycare centers in Norway, which serve approximately 19,000 children. In addition, Læringsverkstedet works with 4,000 children in its daycare centers and schools in Sweden and Germany. It employs approximately 6,000 professionals.

Pilke päiväkodit is one of the leading private early childhood education and development services providers in Finland. It works with over 10,000 children and employs more than 2,000 professionals. In addition to managing over 150 daycare centers across the country, Pilke works closely with local municipalities and private companies, offering after-school clubs and childcare services at home.

Korona Invest Oy, a Finland-based management company with total capital commitments of US$180 million and three private equity funds, owned a 75% stake in Pilke. The remaining shares were owned by Pilke’s founders and the management. Since 2013, under the ownership of Korona Invest, Pilke evolved from 19 daycare centers into the leading daycare operator in Finland and has increased its sales from US$1.7 million to over US$110 million.

Our role in the transaction

Oaklins’ team in Finland advised Læringsverkstedet on the acquisition of Pilke päiväkodit from Korona Invest and other minority shareholders. Oaklins’ cross-border expertise and dedication ensured the successful closing of this transaction.