North Ryde. Kaplan buys Franklyn Scholar

US education giant, Kaplan, a subsidiary of the Washington Post Group, has acquired Carrick Education Group, its second major Australian acquisition within a month. Kaplan Australia acquired the registered training business, Melbourne-based Franklyn Scholar, which has its Sydney facility in Macquarie Park, in May. The two purchases double Kaplan’s operations in Australia. In 2009, Kaplan announced plans to establish a university campus near the University of Adelaide

Glendenning. St John relocates

First aid services provider, St John (NSW, has leased 1500 square metres of office and warehouse space, in Glendenning, for 3+3 years. Commercial rent for the property is $142,500 net annually. Marcel Elias, from Colliers International, negotiated the lease on behalf of DEM Holdings. St John relocated from 2900 square metres in Smithfield.

Region. Pie firm to expand

Pie Face, a Sydney based pie franchise, with two outlets in Parramatta and one in Liverpool, is planning to expand its 50 stores to 92 by the end of the year. Weeks after appointing Macquarie Group and other advisers for a 2012 sharemarket float, founder, Wayne Homschek, said the firm would raise $10 million through a private share sale in the next two weeks, according to The Australian Financial Review. Pie Face puts smiling pastry faces on its products. Pie Face was founded in 2003 in Sydney by Betty Fong and Wayne Homschek. Prior to launching Pie face, the founders were best known for their designer fashion label, Paablo Nevada.

North West. Rail link a shuttle service

The $7 billion North West Rail Link could become a shuttle service between Rouse Hill and Chatswood if another Harbour crossing was not built, according to The Daily Telegraph. NSW Transport modelling has shown only two extra trains can be added to the current morning peak across Sydney Harbour, the paper said.