Madelief stays Madelief', also after the takeover

Description

About 18 years ago we, Monique Francissen and Franciel Peters, were given the opportunity to start a small-scale daycare center. Our Madelief Children's Center has since grown into a child care organization with 3 locations and 35 employees.

With a lot of motivation, fun and creativity we ran the business. But it was time to start doing other things.


After our decision to quit our business, we started looking for a business acquisition adviser. Important conditions for us were, that the identity of the business would be preserved, that the employees would be well taken care of, that the feeling would be good and finally that the sales price would be acceptable.


Feeling and because of the concept ('no cure no pay') we ended up at Company Brokers, where they indicated that it would be fine. Interviews, viewings and negotiations ensued until an agreement was reached with the new owners Peter-Jan Donders and Jeroen Buyink. They have several other small-scale child centers and we are confident that they will be able to further develop Madelief and give it a bright future. A successful trajectory for all parties.

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The story as Monique and Franciel of Madelief Children's Center experienced the acquisition process:

'About 18 years ago, our former employer and director of a health care institution asked us, to realize a child care center for the children of the employees. On his premises we were given the opportunity to use a space and offered to help us draw up the business plan. We were very enthusiastic and so it happened that, after six months of organizing, the doors of our small day care center were opened. In 18 years, our business has grown to a child care organization with 3 locations employing 35 employees. With great motivation, fun and creativity we have run our business but there were also many moments and periods that we experienced as tough.


Three years ago, my motivation was to gladly quit the business in the foreseeable future. The business management, I am very perfectionist by nature, was beginning to weigh me down and, having passed my fifties, I wanted a quieter existence. My companion thought about it for a while and said, "we started the business together and are also going to quit together, we are going to hand it over!".


We searched on Google for a business broker who gave us a good and reliable impression, then we started discussions with two businesses including Company Brokers. Feeling and because of the concept (on "no cure no pay" basis) we gave Company Brokers the assignment to find a suitable party to transfer our business to. 


What was important to us was that the identity of the business would be preserved, that our employees would be well taken care of, that the feeling would be good and finally that the selling price would be acceptable.


After one day of providing a lot of information and agreeing on the terms of sale, Willem, from Company Brokers, prepared an information memorandum that was posted on the Brookz acquisition platform at an appropriate time. Willem was hopeful and optimistic, we were excited to see if anyone would respond at all and that things were getting serious.


But the interested parties came, several talks with Willem were scheduled, introductions to our business came and some led to negotiations between the interested businesses and us.


In January of last year there was an organization that was eager to take over our business and we too were excited about that party, negotiations ensued and we came out of that too! 


But unfortunately, then came the corona crisis and that led to the sale not going through, the organization did not dare to face the uncertainty.


Willem advised to take our business off Brookz for a while to then choose a new time to re-list it, this became November. Willem always gave us the confidence and guidance we needed, we were very satisfied with this. Again came talks, viewings and negotiations until there came a time when an agreement was reached between a fine organization and us. After the agreement followed the due dillengce investigation, there was a thorough investigation to see if all the information we had provided was correct. Once we had accounted for ourselves, the acquisition date was finally set and the contracts were signed. Immediately the following day the employees and customers were informed, we found this very exciting because we found it difficult to estimate how our decision would be reacted to. We had only discussed the sales process with a few people so the news came as a surprise. Fortunately, employees and customers quickly gained confidence in the new owner and in the situation after the takeover.


The acquisition period was set at 3 months, this period we experienced as tough. The first time we missed the confidence in a good transfer but gradually this came good, after all it is your 'baby' you are handing over.


Now we have completed the transfer, we both went on vacation and could think about the business without worrying too much, we could let it go. Now we both choose rest for the time being, we don't have any concrete plans yet what we are going to do next. And what the future will bring us, we'll see...'