Looking after complex acquisitions: Harbour Healthcare expand portfolio

Family-owned care home operator Harbour Healthcare is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2022, over which time they have created a portfolio of 20 care homes and counting.

Launched in 2012, their continued growth has been thanks to a successful acquisition strategy through a mixture of cash purchases and partnerships. Harbour Healthcare specialise in acquiring care homes that are set for closure or in administration from struggling care operators across a variety of service areas including residential, nursing, end of life and dementia, with aspirations to branch out to the childcare sector.

At present, the company now have a team of 1700 staff and house 1100 residents nationwide, and pride themselves on having a 100% success rate turning around distressed care homes. This is thanks to their diligent processes and management expertise. Chairman of Harbour Healthcare, Andrew Worsley explains: ‘We support the team to improve the relationship with our residents. We do that by investing in our staff, ensuring they have the right training,  resources, and manpower to provide the level of service that has become synonymous with the Harbour Healthcare brand’.

With plenty of opportunities moving forward and ambitions to accelerate the growth of the business, having the right legal support in place is key.

Harbour Healthcare turned to Harper James just over a year ago, having reached the limit of support available from their previous advisors. During this time, we’ve restructured the group to facilitate better borrowing power and assisted in four large acquisitions of ‘trading’ care homes. These require a joined-up approach by our corporate, property and employment teams to ensure a smooth transaction.

Our corporate and commercial property teams provide due diligence, warranties and indemnities and manage all completion matters. While our employment team assist with TUPE regulations.

When asked why Harper James is Harbour Healthcare’s go-to firm, Andrew said:

Harper James is the right fit for us, I was attracted to the firm by the experience and reputation of their large team of specialist solicitors. And best of all, I have this support at a price point that’s very competitive compared to their competition.

Andrew said. ‘I have a great relationship with Matt, Sam, and Rachel. I never feel as though we’re not a priority, they’re just a phone call or email away and are always very responsive, no matter how small the query may be.'

Reflecting on his work with Harbour Healthcare, corporate partner, Matt Shakesheff said:

I’m proud of the relationship we’ve built with Andrew and his sons. Having led our legal team through the restructure and recent transactions it’s rewarding to see the value we’re adding to their business; it’s a big group, and a solid, successful business. We’re looking forward to continuing work with Harbour Healthcare as they continue to scale-up.

Harbour Healthcare have no signs of slowing down, plans include exercising purchase options and opening new-build care facilities along with continuing to drive efforts towards improving the quality of service for its residents and employees.