Staffordshire disability care group sold in £375m deal

Bosses at Voyage Care believe the new owners, a consortium of investment companies, will back their plans for further expansion across the UK, building their own business and acquiring others.

Based in Lichfield, Voyage Care runs 290 homes and daycare services for around 3,000 disabled people across the UK. The company employs around 8,500 people and its facilities include sites in Wolverhampton, Walsall, West Bromwich, Dudley and across Staffordshire.

It is one of the UK's leading providers of specialist residential services and supported living for people with learning disabilities, associated physical disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, acquired brain injuries or other complex needs. The vast majority of people supported by Voyage Care typically require high levels of support throughout their lives.

It was owned by investment trust HgCapital and has been sold to a consortium of buy-out specialist Duke Street and investment managers Partners Group and Tikehau.

Voyage Care looks after around 2,000 people in its care homes and supports another 1,000 in their own homes.

The company's chief executive, Kevin Roberts, said: "We are very excited about the new partnership with Partners Group and Duke Street to support our business values and commitment to quality.

"The combined network and sector experience of our new partners provide the ideal platform to support us in further expanding our service offering throughout the UK while ever improving our quality standards for the people we are privileged to support."

He added: "We appreciate the excellent strategic support that HgCapital has provided during their ownership, which has helped to establish Voyage Care as a leading specialist care provider with exceptional service quality."

Andrew Deakin, from new owners Partners Group, said: "We are really looking forward to working with the whole management team of Voyage Care, particularly as it is the clear market leader with a reputation for providing very high quality care, together with Duke Street

"Due to our strong global industry network, we are well-positioned to support the company's buy-and-build strategy within a highly fragmented market, and continue to build its services which are of essential importance for the well-being of society."

Bidding farewell to the business, HgCapital director Philipp Schwalber added: "HgCapital is proud to have supported Voyage Care in becoming a quality leader in its market and invested in its growth. Voyage Care operates as an industry champion, has a strong management team in place, a clear strategy, and above all, a culture which ensures absolute commitment to providing the highest levels of service to those under its care."