A Wirral-based wheelchair services and mobility firm has been acquired by a rapidly-expanding medical group.
Wallasey firm Ross Care, the UK's largest provider of wheelchair repair contracts and with centres around the country, has been snapped up by Millbrook Healthcare, a portfolio company of private investment firm Cairngorm Capital.
Ross Care has 18 service centres around the country including four wheelchair clinical assessment centres across the North and North West of England.
The move was initiated by the retirement of Michael Turner, the firm's chairman and majority shareholder.
The firm said the acquisition creates a national group with market leadership in the outsourced wheelchair and community equipment services sector.
Mr Turner said: “Ross Care has a fantastic heritage and I am extremely proud of all that we have achieved to this point. I know that the company has the capability to achieve much more but this is the natural point for me to pass the company to new, trusted custodians who can deliver on its future potential.
"In Millbrook, Ross Care has a perfect partner, and together the companies should achieve great things."
The enlarged business will be headquartered in Southampton, with 45 service centres nationwide with 1,200 staff supporting the delivery of over 70 contracts.
Ross Care’s MD, James Parramore, will continue to lead the Ross Care business and will join the executive leadership team of the enlarged group.
Phillip Campling, Millbrook’s Chief Executive added: “We are delighted to welcome Ross Care to our Group – our shared expertise and commitment to our customers and communities makes this an obvious and complementary partnership.
"The health and social care sectors are undergoing considerable change – this partnership will enable us to prepare for this, extend our range of services and most importantly, help us to improve our customers’ and service users’ experience.”
It was Cairngorm Capital's 28th off-market transaction since July 2016, and Dr Amit Thaper, who led its team on the investment, said: “Ross Care is an excellent company that is highly regarded by its customers and service users.
"The combination of Ross Care and Millbrook is strategically compelling and delivers additional capabilities and services across the group, to the benefit of all customers."
Cairngorm Capital and Millbrook were advised on this transaction by firms including PwC and Gowling WLG.
Ross Care was advised by Dow Schofield Watts, DWF Group and Fairhurst.
