1998 Venture capitalists 3i take a controlling stake by funding a management buyout to the tune of 14m
2000 Borrows a further 4.5m from 3i at punitive rates of interest.
Expresses an interest in setting up 50 nurseries under the Neighbourhood Nurseries Scheme
2001 By the end of the year 3i is reported to have invested a further Pounds 20m on top of its original stake
2002 The year that former chief executive Tom Shea said Jigsaw would float on the stock market, despite its losses, but said it was 'an aspiration, not a deadline'
2003 In the summer Jigsaw lies fourth in the Nursery Chains' league table with 3,768 places in 36 nurseries; by the winter it has dropped to fifth.
2004 Jigsaw slips to sixth in the league table. The chain's directors call in administrators from accountants KPMG, who sell 28 nurseries to Nord Anglia Education. The remaining eight are put up for sale.
