
Teachers' Private Capital buys Busy Bees
Teachers' Private Capital (TPC), the private equity arm of pension fund Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, has acquired UK-based nursery group Busy Bees.
Although financial details were not officially disclosed, several media reports valued the business in the region of £220m. Busy Bees' management will maintain a significant minority stake in the company.
Busy Bees plans on developing new locations and acquiring other facilities with the support of its new backer.
The company was previously owned by Singapore-based education group Knowledge Universe. Rothschild is believed to have been running the sale process.
Debt
GE Capital was appointed as agent and mandated lead arranger to provide senior debt facilities for the deal. An additional facility was put in place to support Busy Bees' acquisition strategy and rollout plans.
Total debt facilities are understood to be worth around £150m.
Babson Capital Europe co-arranged the mezzanine facility.
Company
Based in Burntwood, Busy Bees was founded in 1983 and currently operates 213 nurseries. It employs 7,000 staff and caters to 20,000 children.
People
Jo Taylor led the deal for TPC.
Latest News
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme
Multi-family office has seen strong appetite, with investor base growing since 2016 to more than 90 family offices, Meiping Yap told Unquote
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m
Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO
Partners Group to release IMs for Civica sale in mid-September
Sponsor acquired the public software group in July 2017 via the same-year vintage Partners Group Global Value 2017
Change of mind: Sponsors take to de-listing their own assets
EQT and Cinven seen as bellweather for funds to reassess options for listed assets trading underwater