A LEADING East Lancashire legal firm has advised a husband and wife partnership on the management buyout of a Darwen nursery.

Farleys Solicitors in Shadsworth advised Janet and Alan Skinner from Feniscowles on the formation of Les Enfants (Holdings) Limited and the purchase of Les Enfants nursery.

The Skinner’s bought the nursery for an undisclosed sum from Kevin and Christine Cookson and James and Lorraine Kirkham who had run the nursery for a number of years.

Les Enfants, on Avondale Road in Darwen, cares for 70 children from birth to pre-school age, as well as running a holiday and after school club for older children. It employs 14 fully qualified childcare professionals and a chef, housekeeper and gardener.

Janet Skinner, joint owner of Les Enfants, said: “It has been my ambition to run my own nursery for a long time so when the opportunity arose to buy Les Enfants, Alan and I decided to make it a reality.

We tried to make the change in ownership as smooth as possible for the staff and children, and have been pleased with comments from parents about how efficient the transition has been.”

Debbie King and Ian Liddle led the Farleys team which provided corporate and commercial property advice to the Skinner’s on the MBO. Debbie said: “Les Enfants has an excellent reputation for providing top quality childcare and we are sure that with Janet and Alan’s experience this will continue to be the case.

Janet has worked in the childcare industry for a number of years and her experience, together with her passion for high standards of childcare will ensure that the nursery continues to be successful under her guidance.”

Janet and Alan Skinner’s accountant was Stephen Round from Greenmount, near Bury. Finance was provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland which was advised by Andrew Clare of Roscoes Solicitors in Blackburn.

The Cookson’s and Kirkham’s were advised by Cobbetts on the corporate side of the transaction, and The Watson  Ramsbottom Partnership on property issues.

Talk to a Farleys Solicitor now about buying a business or forming a company, please contact us by e-mail or call us on 0845 287 0939.