The acquisition of the Just Learning Nurseries’ 71 settings, which offer around 6,700 places, cements Busy Bees' position as the UK’s largest nursery group, taking its total portfolio to 214 nurseries, offering 19,600 places.
Courteney Donaldson, director of childcare at Christie & Co, which advised on the deal, said: “In my view this is the most significant nursery deal of the decade.”
Just Learning was set up in 1995 by MP Michael Fallon and BBC Dragons Den star Duncan Bannatyne, whose share in the firm was bought in a £22m management buyout six years later. The nursery group went on to acquire NuNu nurseries and Scottish chain Careshare.
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