Helen Wong MBE, Corporate and Commercial Lawyer at Setfords, has successfully advised Birch Faraday Capital on its acquisition of Highbury Support Services, a growing and respected provider of care services in the UK.
The acquisition marks a significant step for Birch Faraday Capital as it continues to expand its investment portfolio within the healthcare and social care sectors. Highbury Support Services is known for delivering quality care and support to individuals, and this acquisition is expected to enhance its operational capabilities and reach under Birch Faraday’s strategic leadership resulting in delivering over 17,000 weekly care hours and employing 600 dedicated care professionals across the North West.
Helen Wong MBE, who led the legal advisory on the transaction dealing with the legal due diligence and transactional documents, commented:
“I am delighted to have supported Birch Faraday Capital in this exciting acquisition. Highbury Support Services is an established care business based in North Wales with a strong reputation providing high quality care for individuals with complex needs, and I wish Darnell and the team at Birch Faraday all the best as they continue to build on this success. It was also a pleasure to work alongside Alex J Wilson of Bamburg Capital Limited and Gerald Edelman. Having a full deal team helped expedite deal timetable and all matters dealt with quickly and eradicated any stumbling blocks along the way.”
Darnell Irozuru, Managing Director of Birch Faraday Capital, expressed his enthusiasm for the future:
“Acquiring Highbury Support Services aligns with our commitment to investing in essential sectors and supporting businesses that make a real difference in people’s lives. We are grateful to Helen Wong MBE and the team at Setfords for their expert guidance throughout this process.”
This acquisition underscores Birch Faraday Capital’s dedication to fostering growth within the care sector while maintaining a focus on quality and service excellence. The corporate financier was Bamburg Captial led by Alex J Wilson who sourced the deal and advised on the acquisition process throughout. Gerald Edelman acted as buy-side financial adviser performing detailed financial due diligence, reviewing of working capital and net debt.
The Evolving Care Sector
Helen Wong MBE also shared her insights on the evolving landscape of the care industry:
“The care sector is fragmented and split between groups and owner led businesses. It is ripe for consolidation as investors recognise the importance of such businesses providing essential services as the demographics of the UK get older. The changes to the forthcoming Budget – capital gains changes, NI increases, minimum wage increases have focused operators to weigh up continuing the trade and therefore there is growing opportunities for buyers to step in. Having advised care operators – buyside and sellside for the last 15 years, the SME and mid-market transactions remain busy. Birch Farady Capital’s acquisition of Highbury Support Services is well-timed and evidence that investors can have a positive impact on this very important industry that will serve us all at some point in our lives.”
As the care sector continues to evolve, strategic acquisitions like this one highlight the growing opportunities for investors to make a meaningful impact. With extensive experience advising on transactions within the industry, Helen Wong MBE and the team at Setfords remain committed to supporting businesses through every stage of their growth.
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Helen Wong MBE is a corporate solicitor specialising in M&A transactions in the healthcare sector (dental practices, residential care homes, domiciliary care agencies, pharmacies) and education sector (day nurseries and schools).
If you are considering a merger, acquisition, or any corporate transaction, please reach out to us to discuss how we can assist you.
