Corporate activity in the independent healthcare sector is expected to remain robust after law firm Browne Jacobson’s healthcare team announced the completion of circa £100m worth of healthcare deals in the last 12 months.
Some of the team’s biggest deals included the Bowmark Capital backed secondary buy-out of CARE Fertility Group by General Healthcare Group, Methodist Homes’ acquisition of Welland Place, the private equity investment in Independent Community Care Management Limited by ISIS Equity Partners, and Bestport Ventures’ investment in Oracle Care Limited. In addition the team advised Boots UK Limited on several retail pharmacy corporate transactions and implemented a group reorganisation for The Hesley Group.
Browne Jacobson’s wider healthcare team acts for private and third sector providers of health and social care services, funders and private equity investors within the sector, the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA), health insurance providers, regulators including the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and over 50 NHS commissioner and provider trusts.
Oliver Pritchard, partner and head of the commercial health team at Browne Jacobson, said: “It has been a very busy year for the team. Whilst corporate activity generally remains fragile, activity within the independent healthcare sector has remained encouragingly robust.
“We are almost unique as a firm in combining a market leading private sector corporate and commercial practice with an equally heavyweight public sector health and social care practice.
“This places us in a privileged position in understanding the market and the needs of our clients within the sector.
“Looking ahead the signs are that the relative buoyancy of the sector over the last twelve months will continue.
“The added pressures on the public purse, the impact of healthcare reforms and the demands placed upon services by an ageing population will also help to sustain activity levels, particularly in the form of acquisitions and private equity buyouts.”