The Halifax Group has sold its portfolio company Caring Brands International, a franchisor of home healthcare services, to Levine Leichtman Capital Partners.
Caring Brands operates under three brands: Interim HealthCare (US); Bluebird Care (UK and Ireland); and Just Better Care (Australia). In November 2012, Halifax invested in Interim HealthCare, a home health care franchise company. In partnership with Halifax, the management team executed a plan to grow the business organically, adding 42 new US franchise locations, and through acquisitions, adding 210 new locations in six countries through the buys of UK based Bluebird Care in September 2013 and Australia-based Just Better Care in October 2014.
No financial information on the sale was provided but Halifax has characterized the sale as a successful investment for the firm. “Our successful investment in Caring Brands is the continuation of Halifax’s long history of investing in both healthcare and franchising and is the result of our partnership with the highly dedicated Caring Brands team,” said Ken Doyle, managing director, Halifax.
Halifax formed Caring Brands International (CBI) in September 2013 to serve as the holding company for its brands and operations. Together, the CBI brands represent 530 locations operated by more than 250 independent franchise owners that produce over $1 billion of system wide sales. CBI is led by CEO Kathleen Gilmartin and COO Mike Slupecki and is headquartered west of Ft. Lauderdale in Sunrise, FL (www.caringbrandsintl.com).
“Halifax’s experience and understanding of the complex nature of healthcare services and franchising allowed them to provide invaluable strategic guidance,” said Ms. Gilmartin. “We have been able to execute against a very aggressive growth strategy, re-energize our domestic growth effort and extend our footprint across four countries. Halifax brought a unique approach and skill set that our team greatly appreciated.”
The Halifax Group invests in lower middle-market businesses across a variety of industries including health and wellness, infrastructure, business and government services and franchising. The firm has offices in Washington, DC; Dallas, TX; and Raleigh, NC (www.thehalifaxgroup.com).
“Under Kathleen Gilmartin and Mike Slupecki’s leadership, Caring Brands’ management team and employees executed a masterful growth plan during our partnership,” said Scott Plumridge, principal at Halifax. “From energizing new franchise development to expanding onto two new continents, together we have truly transformed the business into a global brand in home health franchising.”
Piper Jaffray (www.piperjaffray.com) and North Point Advisors (www.nptadvisors.com) were the financial advisers to Halifax and Caring Brands on this transaction.
© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 9-30-15
