South Africa's Curro buys 50 pct stake in Bostwana-based university.

Reuters
A security guard walks at Waterstone College, a private school managed by Curro in the south of Johannesburg July 22, 2015. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's biggest private education firm Curro Holdings, acquired a 50 percent stake in Botswana-based BA Isago University as part of its stated goal to run 80 campuses by 2020, the firm said on Monday. * The transaction will be done through Curro's wholly-ownedsubsidiary, The Embury Institute for Higher Education, thecompany said in a statement without giving any financialdetails. * Curro will fund the transaction by means of existing cashreserves and bank loans. * BA ISAGO University was established in Botswana in 2002and operates from four campuses - Gaborone, Fancistown, Seroweand Maun. * If approved by antitrust authorities, the transaction willadd 3,000 students to the 42,000 Curro has on 47 campuses. * The company is constructing nine more that could becompleted this financial year. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Joe Brock)