A specialist provider of residential care and education for young people has secured finance for further roll-out of its services following its acquisition.
Pebbles Care, which operates 41 residential care homes and four schools across the North of England and Scotland, has been purchased by Ardenton Capital Corporation.
Founded in 2003 by director Luiz Guilherme, the business – which is headquartered in Leeds and Dunfermline – has grown into one of the leading providers of its kind, working with hundreds of vulnerable young people to offer them a stepping stone to a brighter future.
Manchester-based Ardenton will work closely with Pebbles’ management team, with the investment set to support Pebbles in its roll-out of services.
Sintons acted for Mr Guilherme in the deal and completed the sale, in a transaction led by corporate partner Adrian Dye, with support from Jonathan Tutu and Sophie Townes. The law firm is known on a national basis for its work within the care sector and acts for many major operators.
“The Pebbles Group has been providing outstanding childcare for more than 16 years, so it was crucial that we found an investor who believed in maintaining the values that have made the group successful,” said Mr Guilherme.
“Ardenton’s strategy of a long-term investment model will ensure that the Pebbles Group continues to flourish and grow as a national preferred provider.”
Adrian Dye said: “Pebbles has worked with countless young people over the years, building its presence during that time across the North of England and Scotland to become regarded as a real leader in its field. It is a reflection on the dedication and vision of Luiz Guilherme that his business has been acquired in this way, and has secured the funding to take it to the next level.
“Sintons is recognised as a leading advisor to owner-managed businesses across the North of England and beyond, with particular specialism in advising the care sector, and we are very pleased to have been instructed by Luiz on this matter and to have supported him with its successful completion.”
Iain Marlow, director at Ardenton, added: “It’s a privilege to be working alongside the Pebbles Care management team to support the invaluable work the business does looking after some of the most vulnerable young people in society.
“Our investment will enable the team to invest further into the quality of their care provision and expand their services to provide more capacity.”
