Kids Planet makes move for Irish nursery group
Our weekly free round up of key deals and major moves in the Rainmakers world
Hello Rainmakers,
We’re not in a recession, and deals still getting done. Here is a round up of the most eye-catching deals from around the country, including a glimpse into what Peter ardy might do next. Then after that you can find details of how to book a place at the Rainmaker awards.
This is free to all who have signed up, however Rainmakers subscribers get two unique pieces a week, and also full access to our back catalogue of investigations, scoops, and insights, including updates from The Secret Investor, interviews with entrepreneurs, and the leaders from VC and PE investors like Endless, and River Capital, Foresight, Mercia, Puma and LDC.
Kids Planet Day Nurseries, the second largest childcare provider in the UK, has expanded internationally acquiring 34 settings in Ireland, bringing its total number of settings to over 300.
The multi award-winning group founded by Clare Roberts OBE in 2008, has acquired Tigers Childcare, based in Dublin.
Founded and owned by Karen Clince, Tigers Childcare is one of the largest childcare groups in Ireland with over 640 colleagues across 34 settings caring for more than 3,200 children
Although operating within the Kids Planet group Clince will remain leading the business day-to-day with no planned changes to the Tigers Childcare team.
Both nursery groups are recognised for delivering high-quality childcare, grounded in educational excellence. They provide nurturing environments where children can explore and thrive, supported by exceptional early years practitioners dedicated to learning and development.
Kids Planet remains family-owned, with its nature-first curriculum central to its approach. Each setting is deeply connected to its local community, celebrating diversity, giving back, and promoting equality and inclusion.
The acquisition has been enabled by investment from Private Equity firm Fremman, supporting the group’s continued commitment to growth and international expansion.
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Fletchers Group has laid down the law in the legal sector after striking a deal to acquire the clinical negligence and court of protection teams from Freeths.
The agreement will see 42 staff pass the bar into the Fletchers fold, with 21 clinical negligence specialists joining Fletchers Solicitors and another 21 court of protection experts moving across to EMG, the group’s standalone private client business.
The deal also hands Fletchers a hefty case load boost, adding more than 530 active matters to its books as it continues building its presence in the serious injury and negligence market.
Fletchers Group chief executive Peter Haden said the acquisition would strengthen the business across both specialist legal areas, while Freeths national managing partner Karl Jansen said: “The market continues to evolve, and long-term success in these specialist areas increasingly requires scale, focus and sustained investment.”
Once the deal reaches its final verdict in June, Fletchers’ clinical negligence division will boast more than 400 staff handling upwards of 10,300 cases, while EMG’s court of protection and private client arm will grow to more than 300 employees.
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Gateley Legal are pretty pleased with themselves at the appointment of Daniel Hall as partner.
He joins the firm after working for 30 years at Eversheds Sutherland as a highly respected corporate lawyer. He specialises in mergers and acquisitions involving both public and private companies and has extensive expertise in capital markets transactions.
Widely recognised as one of the region’s leading corporate lawyers, Daniel has been voted the leading North West Corporate Lawyer on five occasions.
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Rydal Group has made a strong connection in the Midlands after completing the acquisition of Coventry-based HBT Communications Limited.
Founded in 1988 by brothers Zamurad and Ajmal Hussain, HBT has spent nearly four decades keeping Midlands businesses connected - and will continue operating under its existing name from its Coventry offices, with no changes to staff, management, contracts or customer contact details.
The deal gives Peterborough-headquartered Rydal Group an even stronger regional signal as it expands its telecoms, cloud, cyber security and managed IT services across the UK.
The group already supports more than 3,000 businesses nationwide through a 120-strong team and operates its own UK data centre and ISP facilities.
Steffan Dancy, CEO of Rydal Group said: “HBT Communications has an exceptional reputation built over decades of trusted service, expertise and strong customer relationships. We are proud to welcome the business into the Rydal Group and look forward to supporting its continued growth while preserving the local, customer-focused approach that has made HBT so respected since 1988.”
As part of the move, HBT customers will gain access to optional new services including cloud telephony, AI-powered communications, managed IT support and cyber security - though existing services will continue exactly as before.
The acquisition forms part of Rydal’s wider growth strategy focused on investing in established regional businesses while keeping their local identity firmly switched on.
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A 46-year-old Sheffield-based secondary glazing manufacturer has started a new chapter as part of £1.9bn turnover Stockholme-listed industrial conglomerate Lifco AB. The Nordic giant has swooped for Granada Secondary Glazing and its subsidiary Clearview Secondary Glazing. Founded in 1980, Granada supplies a range of bespoke products to the trade and commercial sectors, as well as directly to consumers through its Clearview subsidiary.
Lifco says the deal provides Granada with a long-term ownership structure which supports its management team and growth strategy, but emphasises that the takeover will preserve the business’s operational independence, culture and brand. It adds the acquisition further reflects its strategy of buying “niche, market-leading businesses with strong cash generation and opportunities for sustainable, long-term growth.”
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Peter Vardy’s eponymous group has sold its Motherwell-based car finance broker CarMoney to Japanese group ITOCHU Corporation for an undisclosed sum.
It will continue to operate as an independent business - with the management team remaining in place - but now plans to scale and expand further across the UK and internationally.
Vardy has also sold of his last couple of car dealerships, with Benelux-based Van Mossel Automotive Group buying its Porsche Centres in Perth and Aberdeen.
As Vardy told TheBusinessDesk in January, after selling off much of his car dealership empire, he is now focussed on investing in, and fostering the leadership of, early stage Scottish companies.
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The King’s Speech this week was welcomed by UK Private Capital’s Chief Executive Michael Moore, who said: “The UK’s status as a hub for private capital depends on maintaining a competitive and proportionate regulatory environment. We therefore welcome the Government bringing forward Bills to regulate for growth and reform the competition landscape.”
On the Regulating for Growth Bill, he said: “The new sandbox powers should provide more opportunities for private capital-backed businesses to do what they do best – grow, innovate and support jobs. This approach has the potential to increase opportunity for founders and investors alike to test the fast growing technologies that are often backed by private capital.”
On the Competition Reform Bill, he added: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to improving the agility and responsiveness of the UK’s regulatory framework by strengthening the ‘growth duty’. Enhancing the speed and focus of market reviews will provide more certainty for UK private capital firms. Alongside this, ensuring that there is flexibility in merger investigations will help businesses invest with increased clarity.”
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The 2026 Rainmaker Awards
The North West, Yorkshire and West Midlands Rainmaker Awards are upon us, once again bringing together the region’s deals community to celebrate the standout deals, teams, and individuals of the past 12 months.
Voted for by the corporate finance community itself, the awards are decided on a one-firm, one-vote basis – making the Rainmaker a genuine peer-led recognition.
Voting forms start landing next week, after the shortlists have been agreed by a judging day involving all the region’s leading firms.
The Rainmaker Awards ditch black-tie formality and speeches in favour of a relaxed evening focused on what the deals and the people who made them happen.
The evening is also a great way to connect with leading firms and individuals shaping the regional deal landscape.
There is a new individual category this year, as we will recognise Lifetime Achievement of one of our Rainmakers for the first time.
The 2026 Yorkshire awards are on June the 11th at New Dock Hall in Leeds, the North West awards will take place on the 25th of June 2026 at the Kimpton Hotel in Manchester city centre, and the West Midlands at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham on the 2nd of July.
Last year sold out, so book early to secure your table.
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