Fremman Capital Raises Oversubscribed Continuation Fund for Kids Planet, Anchored by Ares Secondaries

Why It Matters

The continuation fund gives Fremman Capital flexibility to support Kids Planet’s scaling while offering existing investors an exit, and signals strong investor confidence in the UK early‑education market.

Key Takeaways

• Ares Secondaries leads continuation fund for Kids Planet
• Fund oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor appetite
• Enables liquidity for Fremman Capital’s existing investors
• Supports Kids Planet’s expansion across UK nurseries
• Highlights growing interest in childcare private equity

Pulse Analysis

Continuation vehicles have become a staple of the private‑equity secondary market, allowing sponsors to extend the life of high‑performing assets without launching a brand‑new fund. By anchoring such a vehicle, a secondary buyer like Ares Secondaries provides the capital needed to meet oversubscription demand while delivering liquidity to early investors. This structure reduces the pressure on general partners to exit prematurely and aligns interests for longer‑term value creation. The recent Ares‑Fremman deal illustrates how secondary investors are increasingly targeting niche, growth‑oriented businesses rather than just large‑cap buyouts.

Kids Planet, founded in 2015, operates a network of over 100 early‑learning centres across the United Kingdom and has been expanding at double‑digit rates. The childcare market benefits from demographic trends, government support for early education, and a resilient demand that persists even in economic downturns. Fremman Capital’s original investment helped standardise curricula, improve operational efficiency, and secure prime locations. The new continuation fund will likely finance further site roll‑outs, technology upgrades, and potential acquisitions, positioning Kids Planet as a dominant player in a fragmented sector.

The oversubscription of the CV signals strong confidence among institutional investors in both the underlying asset and the secondary market’s ability to deliver attractive risk‑adjusted returns. For Ares Secondaries, the anchor role enhances its reputation as a go‑to partner for high‑growth, recession‑proof assets. For Fremman Capital, the liquidity event frees up capital to pursue new opportunities while retaining upside exposure to Kids Planet’s trajectory. As private‑equity firms seek stable cash‑flow generators, similar continuation deals are expected to proliferate, especially in sectors such as education, healthcare, and essential services.

Deal Summary

Pan‑European private equity firm Fremman Capital announced the closing of an oversubscribed continuation fund for its UK nursery operator Kids Planet. The fund was anchored by Ares Secondaries, highlighting strong investor interest in the early‑education sector.