NEW YORK—Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in midmarket companies, announced a minority structured equity and junior debt investment in the Worldwide Home Care division of Sodexo (the "Company"), which provides in–home care in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Brazil. The investment supported the acquisition of the Company led by private equity firm The Halifax Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Irvine, California, the Company is a franchisor in the United States through its Comfort Keepers brand, which operates in the non-medical personal care sector through 535 franchised territories and 105 company-owned territories. Internationally, the Company offers personal care in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and France and complex care (skilled nursing, therapies and home hospitalization) in the United Kingdom and Brazil. The senior management team will continue leading the Company.
"Sentinel's proven experience with franchise models and home care services will be a valuable addition to our partnership with Halifax," said Natalie Black, the Company's CEO. "Our goal is to continue to enhance our service offerings and deliver excellent care to more clients and families."
"Comfort Keepers and the Company's other well-established global brands are leaders in their markets and represent an attractive, diversified business model," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "We're excited to partner with this passionate, committed management team and to contribute our expertise in franchising and health care. We also look forward to working with The Halifax Group, a highly capable private equity firm we have known and worked with for a long time."
Sentinel's investment in the Worldwide Home Care division of Sodexo was made from Sentinel's junior capital family of funds, which specialize in noncontrol structured capital solutions in the lower end of the midmarket.
