WASHINGTON—The Halifax Group (Halifax), a middle market private equity firm that partners with management to invest in market-leading companies, announced that it has agreed to acquire the Worldwide Home Care division of Sodexo, (company), including its home care subsidiaries in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Brazil.
"We are thrilled to partner with a company whose mission we support so wholeheartedly," said Scott Plumridge, managing partner at Halifax. "In the U.S., we have tracked and admired the Comfort Keepers brand for a long time, and it is a privilege to have this opportunity to support the continued expansion of the company's global collection of brands. The company and its franchisees play an important role in helping individuals to live independently in the comfort of their own homes. The company is one of the largest operators in this sizeable market and has distinguished itself through the high-quality professional care that brings personal interaction, dignity and joy to seniors as they age in place."
The company provides in-home care services across eight countries. Headquartered in Irvine, California, it operates as a franchisor in the U.S. in the non-medical personal care sector with 535 franchised territories and 105 company-owned territories. Internationally, Sodexo offers personal care in Ireland, the U.K., Norway, Denmark, Sweden and France. In addition, it offers complex care (skilled nursing, therapies and home hospitalization) in the U.K. and Brazil. The Worldwide Home Care Division CEO Natalie Black will remain at the company along with the senior management team.
"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Halifax, and confident that their resources and expertise will greatly benefit the Worldwide Home Care team in accelerating their growth and success," said Sophie Bellon, chairwoman and CEO of Sodexo. "For Sodexo, this milestone marks another step forward in the implementation of our 2025 strategic plan, and our ambition to become the leader in sustainable food and valued experiences."
"We look forward to working with the leadership team to build on the company's impressive market position and accelerate its growth," said Molly Fitzpatrick, vice president at Halifax. "Halifax has a long history of investing in home care services as well as franchisors, and we understand the advantages for all stakeholders of providing these care services in the lower-cost and comfortable home setting."
Halifax has a history of supporting home health care and franchising companies, including Caring Brands International, another franchisor of home health care services. In partnership with management, Halifax grew the U.S.-based Interim HealthCare through both organic initiatives and acquisitions, adding U.K.-based Bluebird Care and Australia-based Just Better Care to form Caring Brands International in 2013. When Halifax sold its stake in the business in 2015, it offered a full continuum of home health services in more than 530 locations in seven countries.
"We have enjoyed remarkable achievements over the last 15 years, having grown our footprint to more than 700 locations around the world," said Natalie Black, CEO of the Worldwide Home Care Division of Sodexo. "We are now pleased to work with Halifax, whose financial resources and experience with both home care services and the franchise model will be invaluable as we prepare for the future. Along with our franchisees and dedicated care providers, we will continue to enhance our service offerings and deliver excellent service to more clients and families."
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023 and is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Lazard served as the financial advisor to Sodexo.
