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Childcare giant ABC Learning Centres yesterday distanced itself from Canadian media reports that it was eyeing expansion in that country.
This came as it emerged a series of international businesses linked to ABC, which caters for children aged from infants to schoolgoers, have been established.
The Brisbane-based businesses were partly established by a man whose own company's association with ABC was questioned by analysts last year.
The businesses, registered this year, were 123 Global Holdings with different organisations named for regions including Australasia, China, Europe, North America and Japan.
The Toronto Star reported ABC was eyeing Canada through a business it named as Ontario-based 123 Busy Beavers Learning Centres.
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But ABC yesterday said the 123 companies were separate businesses.
"ABC Learning has no plans for operations in any country in the near future outside of Australia, New Zealand, the US and UK," a spokesman said.
Most of the 123 Global companies are based at the same Murarrie address as some ABC facilities. That address also was ABC's former registered office.
The 123 Global website describes the organisation as "the leading provider of state-of-the-art childcare facilities".
It describes ABC as a "key client" in Australia, as were two ABC subsidiaries in the UK and US.
A director for each 123 Global business is Donald Jones. Business records show he also owns the company which has the biggest stakes in the businesses.
Citigroup analysts last year pointed out Mr Jones was a director of ABC Acquisitions, which co-ordinates centre developers and sellers for ABC Learning Centres.
While then based at the same address as ABC Learning Centres, it was designated a separate entity to the ABC group and listed only two shareholders &em; Mr Jones and a Heather Jones.
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- reprinted from the Courier-Mail