Christie brokers sale of Kids Allowed nursery group

Professional and financial services provider Christie Group announced on Tuesday that its specialist provider of agency and advisory services, Christie & Co, has completed the sale of nursery group Kids Allowed to Kids Planet, for an undisclosed sum.

The AIM-traded company said Christie & Co's specialist childcare team were engaged to explore options and facilitate a highly confidential sale of the group, containing a number of award winning nurseries located within the North West of England.

It said the Kids Allowed group, founded in 2003 by Jennie Johnson MBE, had grown organically to include eight purpose-built settings, providing childcare to around 2,000 children.

The eight day nurseries were sold on a leasehold basis, in an off-market transaction, to Kids Planet, which Christie described as an “expanding group operator” with more than 44 nurseries across the North West and the Midlands.

“I first met Jennie back in the early 2000's, when I was invited to lend my expertise to undertake an independent review of the Kids Allowed original business plan,” said Courteney Donaldson, managing director of child-centric sectors at Christie & Co.

“Over the intervening years it has been wonderful to watch the business grow and flourish.

“Having been invited to facilitate the sale, it has been an absolute joy to support Jennie through the entire lifecycle of her business, from conception, to exit.”

At 1224 GMT, shares in Christie Group were down 1.21% at 122p.