The deal takes the number of nurseries operated by Kids Planet to 132.
Waverton Day Nurseries was established in 2013 by mother and daughter, Tracey Jenkins and Cheryl Taylor, who have 20 years’ experience in the childcare sector.
Jenkins said, ‘I’ve been exploring what my next stage in life might be and this felt that the time was right for myself and family to begin a new chapter and a much-needed chance to pause and reflect on all I have achieved. RDK supported myself in identifying a buyer that had similar family values and qualities as my own nurseries and I felt that Kids Planet had a synergy that I could identify with.’
The sale was handled by Redwoods Dowling Kerr and the educational legal team at Setfords, led by Helen Wong.
Wong said, ‘I wish Tracey and Cheryl and family all the best. There were a lot of complicated legal situations to untangle but we got there in the end. Running a business is sometimes so busy that the preparation to sell one’s business gets overlooked. What we had to assist with in Tracey’s instance was not just the sale but the pre-steps to prepare for sale, securing landlord’s consent, dealing with historic issues in respect of the property, so that the business was ready for sale. On top of that there is the emotional rollercoaster that a vendor feels. It is always hard to detach from a business which morphs into one’s life, but I’m glad Tracey sold on a high.’
She went on to say that the nursery market in the UK is experiencing an ‘unprecedented’ level of deal activity with owners choosing to put their businesses up for sale post Covid-19. Wong said she expected the number of settings up for sale to increase due to ‘economic uncertainty, spiralling utility costs, staff shortages and the nervousness of a recession on the horizon.'
Grandir UK continues to grow
Grandir UK, which owns the Kiddi Caru nursery brand, has also added another site.
Toad Hall day Nursery
The nursery group has bought Toad Hall Day Nursery, a 76-place setting in Rayleigh, Essex, taking its total number of sites to 60.
Lydia Hopper, managing director of Grandir UK, said, ‘Toad Hall Day Nursery is a fantastic addition to the group with an aligned vision of educating and preparing children for life. We are very much looking forward to meeting everyone over the coming weeks.’
David Eaves, director, childcare & education at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, added, ‘It was a pleasure to support Paula and Nigel with the sale of their outstanding setting.
‘This sale yet again demonstrates the demand in the market for quality nurseries, and Essex has consistently been a geography where demand outstrips supply.’
