Browne Jacobson advises on care home sale

Browne Jacobson has advised Runwood Homes, the prominent elderly care provider, on the £615m sale of its extensive portfolio of 55 care homes to Omega Healthcare Investors and Foundation Partners. This deal marks a substantial move within the health and care sector and further underscores the growing interest from international investors in quality UK care businesses. Browne Jacobson served as the sole legal adviser throughout the transaction, demonstrating their expertise within this niche legal sector.

The partnership involved multiple experts from Browne Jacobson, including Ross Davidson, who has a long-standing relationship with Runwood Homes, having worked with them for 15 years, and led the legal team on this deal. Davidson remarked, “Runwood Homes is an outstanding business, built over four decades through a clear commitment to high-quality care and the dedication of its people. Its scale, reputation and strength are testament to the vision of Gordon Sanders and the team who have developed the business into one of the UK's leading care home groups.”

Vicky Tomlinson, who heads the Independent Health and Care division at Browne Jacobson, also reflected on the significance of the transaction, stating, “It has been a privilege for our team to support Gordon Sanders and the wider team on such an important transaction for the independent health and care sector. This demonstrates the continued appetite from international investors for high-quality UK care businesses and the opportunities that exist for those willing to take a long-term view of the market.”

Gordon Sanders, the CEO and founder of Runwood Homes, expressed his pride in the company’s journey, saying, “Developing Runwood Homes has been an extraordinary journey and one of which I am immensely proud. From the outset, I have always believed in putting quality first and, above all, that our people are at the heart of our business.” He acknowledged that the organisation is in a strong position as it transitions to new management under Evera Living and expressed his best wishes for the future to the new owners.

The successful transaction reflects Browne Jacobson’s capability to offer comprehensive legal support across various sectors, combining expertise in corporate law, real estate, and independent health and care. With a team of over 200 specialist lawyers, the firm continues to make strides in providing legal advice to clients within the independent health and care realm. Recent notable transactions include advising the shareholders of CF Group on their disposal to Keys Group and supporting investments into the children's care market.