News

Specialist health and social lawyers from national firm Bevan Brittan have advised England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing for older people on its latest expansion.

Anchor has completed its deal to acquire the entire share capital of Halcyon Care Homes Topco Limited, bringing with it 11 care homes located in the East Midlands and the south of England.

The transaction brings the total number of care homes operated by Anchor to 125 and is its biggest care home acquisition since 2015.

The Bevan Brittan team was led by corporate property Rachel Soundy and real estate partner Sarah Skuse. Sarah said: “We are delighted to have supported Anchor on this latest expansion of their business and the most significant acquisition they have made in recent years.

The latest stage in its plans will enable the expanded Anchor team to deliver its ambition to have more and better homes where people love living in later life.”

Anchor Chief Executive Sarah Jones said: “The addition of these purpose-built homes – and the skilled teams who work in them and within the support functions – enable us to bring the Anchor brand of high-quality, person-centred care to a greater range of areas across England.

“Our two organisations have much in common in terms of organisational values and a commitment to innovate and continually improve our services to older people. I’m therefore very pleased to welcome the homes’ residents and colleagues to the Anchor family.”

The deal is the largest for Anchor since the purchase of 24 care homes from LNT Group and five care homes from Cavendish Healthcare Group in 2015. Five homes were also acquired from Hadrian Healthcare Group in 2019, with a further two expected to complete in 2023 and 2024.

Real Estate partner Sarah Skuse and Corporate Partner Rachel Soundy lead a multi departmental team assisted by Partner, Nick Thackray, Senior Associates Sarah Newton, Maria Fert, Peter Francis and Associate Tanveer Rashid.

In June, the firm won the prestigious ‘Legal Advisors of the Year – Transactional’ category for the third consecutive year at the Health Investor Awards and the ‘Legal Advisors of the Year – Private’ award. Sarah Skuse is also shortlisted in the HealthInvestor Power 50 ‘One to Watch’ category.