Stephenson Harwood LLP advises on acquisition of the Hesley Group

Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised private investment fund Blandford Capital on its acquisition of UK adult educational and residential homes provider, Hesley Group, from Antin Infrastructure Partners.

Blandford Capital, which has already invested in the UK health sector, provides financial and operational support to management teams to help businesses to grow and to achieve their full potential.

The Hesley Group provides specialist care, support, and education for adults with complex care needs, including behaviours that challenge and learning disabilities, often in association with autism. It operates residential homes and supported living schemes. This investment will provide financial support and expertise to allow the Hesley Group to build further on its strong foundations, providing the very best service to people in its care.

The firm advised Blandford on multiple aspects of this transaction, led by relationship partner Ian Benjamin. Corporate finance partner Karima Hudson and managing associate Tom Finden advised Yona Bidco Ltd on the acquisition and a due diligence exercise assisted by lawyers across the firm, with managing associate Patrick Lundie and a large real estate team leading on the significant property due diligence aspects. Private equity partner Adam Crossley and associate Elliott Dagul advised Blandford JV, LP on the investment structure put in place between Blandford, its own investors and the Hesley Group management team. Banking partner Daniel Margolis and associate Sarah Alton advised Blandford Lender Ltd on the debt investment used to fund the acquisition and provide ongoing working capital for the Hesley Group.

The transaction demonstrates the firm's outstanding ability to provide both sector expertise, in this case healthcare, and cross departmental support for complex transactions, further representing how Stephenson Harwood's private capital and funds area of focus can bring together a variety of the firm's teams to support a client across all of their transactional needs.