Emperor Nurseries has acquired Dragonflies Childcare, an early years setting in Hampshire, in a deal facilitated by specialist business property adviser Christie & Co.

Emperor Nurseries group, run by Sunil Unadkat and Avi Sethi, owns one other setting in Hertford. Dragonflies Childcare provides care and early education for up to 42 children at any one time, and also offers a holiday club and wraparound childcare.

The setting has been owned by Helen Clemons since 2018, who chose to explore a sale to spend more time with her family.

Unadkat and Sethi said: “We were very particular about choosing the next nursery to add to our group at Emperor Nurseries, as our litmus test is always ‘Would we send our own daughters here?’. Thankfully we came across Dragonflies, which provided that cosy, ‘home away from home’ feeling that we were searching for.”

Clemons said: “It was very important to me to find a buyer that I felt would uphold the values and ethos we have worked hard to create at Dragonflies and also take good care of the amazing staff team at the heart of the nursery and out-of-school club. I am confident that Dragonflies will continue to flourish in Sunil and Avi’s capable hands.”

Sophie Willcox, director – childcare and education at Christie & Co, said: “We received a lot of interest in Dragonflies from a variety of buyers, but Sunil and Avi felt like the right fit. They have worked closely alongside Helen to ensure the transition is smooth for parents and staff, and I wish them all the best for the future. I believe Dragonflies is an attractive business because of its good security of tenure, stable and consistent staff team, and the word-of-mouth reputation it has built over the years.”

Funding was sourced through Catherine Cattermole, finance consultant at Christie Finance. Cattermole said: “The purchase of Dragonflies Childcare by our clients, Emperor Nurseries, is a great example of how lender support can help a fast-growing business thrive. We secured significant funding by showcasing our clients’ proven track record – specifically, their impressive growth of a nursery that had been previously thought to have reached its maximum potential, all while maintaining high standards of care, education and team management. The strengths of both businesses, combined with Avi and Sunil’s experience, played a key role in achieving a successful outcome.”