Investment Announcement
News Managed Equity
Quintas Capital invests in Zenith Childcare
Over €15 million of growth capital to more than treble the capacity of one of Ireland's fastest-growing creche operators.
Dublin · 28 September 2026
Quintas Capital has completed an investment of over €15 million in Zenith Childcare, an operator of purpose-built early years facilities in high-demand residential areas across Ireland.
The transaction is the second investment under Quintas Capital's Managed Equity platform and was funded predominantly by Irish investors. The platform is led by Quintas shareholder and partner Kevin MacSweeny, supported by Liam Holland.
The businessPurpose-built childcare, where families are moving
Zenith was founded in 2024 by Charlene Roche and Stephen Moore. It operates five creche services across Cork, Limerick and the wider Dublin commuter belt, with four further services opening in early 2027. Its early growth was funded by Quintas Capital's EIIS fund.
Its creches are purpose-built by Ireland's leading housebuilders as part of planning requirements for new residential schemes, and are designed for childcare from the outset in catchment areas where young families are moving. Zenith acquires these units in shell-and-core condition and completes the fit-out itself.
The investmentGrowth capital to treble capacity
The investment is structured primarily as growth capital, funding the acquisition and best-in-class fit-out of new shell-and-core creches. It will take the business from 450-plus childcare places today to more than 1,500 over the coming years — more than trebling its capacity nationwide.
Today
450+
New childcare places across five creche services in Cork, Limerick and the Dublin commuter belt.
The plan
1,500+
New childcare places over the coming years, beginning with four further services opening in early 2027.
In their wordsA partnership built on shared priorities
"With our trusted partners in Quintas Capital, we aim to extend the platform we have built in the last 18 months to meet the needs of parents in our communities. We are excited to announce this partnership and investment, which will enable us to deliver more childcare spaces in Ireland."
Charlene Roche, CEO, Zenith Childcare
"Zenith is exactly the kind of business our Managed Equity platform was built for: founder-led, growing fast, in a sector where Ireland needs more capacity and where owning the infrastructure matters. Charlene and Stephen have built a service that parents trust and are passionate about the environment their purpose-built creches create for young children and their development. Our investors are predominantly Irish private investors supporting an Irish business embedded in local growing communities — this is important to us, our investors and the founders."
Kevin MacSweeny, Partner, Quintas Capital
About Managed Equity
Quintas Capital Managed Equity is a deal-by-deal private equity investment platform. Each investment is structured on a standalone basis rather than pooled into a fund, which allows terms to be tailored to each business and its founders. The team focuses on a small number of select, high-quality businesses, completing one to two investments per year.
BackgroundAbout the parties
Media contact: ir@quintascapital.ie