Private equity in India's premium K-12 education sector is rising mirroring similar investments in healthcare.
Private equity funds invest in Indian schools despite legal requirements for non-profit status by structuring deals around the core non-profit school entity and associated for-profit companies that provide services like uniforms, textbooks, real estate, and transport.
KKR-backed Lighthouse Learning Group's ₹1,500 crore acquired Pathways School, a prominent IB school in Gurgaon in 2026. Pathways' EBITDA is estimated at 110 crore.
KKR earlier took controlling stake in Lighthouse Learning Group (EuroKids, EuroSchool, Billabong High, Heritage, Centre Point, etc. — 60+ K-12 schools + 1,850+ preschools) in 2019 for ~₹1,475 crore ($200 million). There have been follow-on investments with PSP Investments in 2025. The Group serves 190,000+ students.
The PE firm Kedaara Capital has picked a stake in K12 Techno Services Pvt. Ltd, which runs the chain of Orchids International Schools.
Hyderabad has been a hotspot for global school operators and PE due to its tech-driven demand for premium education, with trends mirroring Pathways (recent KKR-backed deal) — often leading to fee hikes and cost optimization.
Oakridge International Schools were acquired by Nord Anglia Education (backed by CPPIB and Baring PE Asia) in February 2019 for an estimated ₹1,500–1,600 crore (around $200 million).
CHIREC International School (Hyderabad) was acquired by Cognita Schools in November 2019 in a partnership/deal; market sources estimated it at around ₹700 crore, though the exact amount was not officially disclosed.
Glendale Academy (multiple campuses) was acquired in 2023 by Singapore-based Global Schools Foundation (GSF), backed by Apollo Global Management, for an estimated ₹350–400 crore. Post-acquisition reports note staff changes, budget cuts, and enrollment drops.
Sancta Maria International School and related entities have been acquired by international operators (reports link it to groups like International Schools Partnership (ISP) or similar global chains). It has faced enrollment and operational challenges post-deal, similar to other Hyderabad schools.
Co-written with Grok