Grant Thornton advises Welsh nursing care provider on its sale
Healthcare organisation Envivo Group has continued its expansion campaign with the bolt-on of Crusader Medical Care. The shareholders of the family-owned company were advised during the sale by Grant Thornton and Capital Law.
Founded in 2020, acquisitive healthcare business Envivo Group has spent the last year purchasing health and social care entities across the UK. The privately held firm’s ‘family of companies’ now includes TLC Care and Support, Fieldbay, New Directions Flexible Social Care Solutions, and Vision Mental Healthcare.
In the latest move to enhance its portfolio, Envivo has acquired Crusader Medical Care, a specialist nursing care provider based in Cardiff. Founded roughly two decades ago, Crusader employs around 100 people across its two facilities across South Wales. This is something which complements Envivo’s existing operations, as it hosts a number of residential and nursing care homes and supported living services throughout the UK; including a number in South Wales, through its Fieldbay brand – led by Paula Lewis.
Crusader provides care for individuals with highly acute, complex care needs and challenging behaviours, including mental illness and acquired brain injury. It has been family owned and run since its inception over 20 years ago, but the deal with Envivo provides an exit for the founding shareholder.
Crusader Medica Care founder and director, Vincent Ashley commented, "Our business has developed a strong reputation for care quality and its commitment to our residents and staff. It was important that a suitable acquirer was found that would continue to operate the business in this manner and I believe that Envivo fits the criteria perfectly.”
Envivo, which has its head office in Cheltenham, was supported in the transaction by Civitas Investment Management, an investor in specialist healthcare real estate in the UK. Crusader’s shareholders were meanwhile advised on the deal by Capital Law, and professionals from Grant Thornton’s corporate finance team, in the firm’s Cardiff office.
“I would also like to thank the teams at Grant Thornton and Capital Law for their help and support through this process,” Ashley added. “They have been truly outstanding, and we could not have achieved the result we did without them standing shoulder-to-should with us.”
Also speaking on the news, Grant Thornton Corporate Finance Director, Jamie Roberts stated, "Crusader is an outstanding business and we are delighted to have completed this deal which has provided a successful exit for the shareholders. Envivo is an ideal partner for the business going forward and we are confident it will continue the Ashley family legacy.”