Tigers Childcare acquired by Kids Planet

Tigers Childcare has been acquired by UK-based childcare provider Kids Planet Day Nurseries, as part of a strategic partnership, designed to support continued growth and development in Ireland.

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. Ms Clince will remain leading the business day-to-day, with no planned changes to the Tigers Childcare team.

Kids Planet is a multi-award-winning group, and the second largest childcare provider in the UK, founded by Clare Roberts OBE in 2008. The deal is its first outside the UK and brings the total number of centres it operates to over 300.

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.

Karen Clince, Founder and CEO of Tigers Childcare, said: “This is an important step for Tigers Childcare and one that positions us strongly for the future. It gives us the scale, support and shared expertise to continue growing in a way that protects quality and expands access for more families across Ireland.

“We have built a strong offering over many years, and we see Kids Planet as the right partner for our next phase of growth because of its experience, its values and its commitment to quality and safeguarding. Both businesses were established by working mothers who identified a gap in the market for flexible childcare, and both have built their growth around quality, trust and long-term relationships with families and staff.”

Kids Planet is an independent, family-led group, 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 Kids Planet’s continued commitment to growth and international expansion. BGF, the leading growth capital investor in Ireland and the UK, has supported Tigers Childcare through a significant growth phase since 2021, and is exiting its investment, as part of the transaction.

Clare Roberts OBE, Co-Founder and CEO of Kids Planet, commented: “We are incredibly proud of this enormous milestone for the Kids Planet group. The founding story of Tigers Childcare is so similar to our own; we share the same family values, passion and commitment to providing the best possible care for children and striving for change within the early years sector. This is the perfect opportunity for our continued expansion and we are really excited to work alongside the Tigers team.”