The central Ni atom in the title compound, [Ni(C(29)H(29)N(3)O(4))]·2C(7)H(8), is coordinated in a distorted square-planar environment by three N atoms [Ni-N = 1.942 (3), 1.843 (3) and 1.853 (3) Å] and one O atom [1.868 (3) Å] of the tetradentate ligand. The conformation of the hy-droxy-butano-ate side chain is controlled by an inter-molecular hydrogen bond.