Supported living specialists Lifeways acquired by OMERS

The Canadian-based asset management giant OMERS have confirmed the acquisition of supported living provider Lifeways by its private equity arm, completed for an undisclosed sum.

Lifeways specialises in care and support for adults with learning disabilities and is listed on carehome.co.uk as owning 12 care homes in England, although the business runs a network of 33 offices throughout England, Wales and Scotland that focus on numerous forms of care provision. Areas of speciality include independent living methods, acquired brain injury, transitional support and assistive technology.

Announcing the acquisition, OMERS is keen to see that Lifeways will be able to invest further in its services, targeting supported living services as an area of the care sector that will see long-term growth and potential over the next few decades.

Commenting on the deal, senior managing director and country head of OMERS PE Europe, Mark Redman, confirmed the company had been interested in Lifeways for some time:

“Lifeways is a business we have tracked for a long time and we are delighted to be working with Paul Marriner and his team. Lifeways perfectly fits our investment criteria: it is a market leader in every respect with a proven track record of top quality service and profitable growth both organic and via acquisitions, in a market with sound long term growth fundamentals. Looking ahead, we believe OMERS PE’s “patient capital” approach is ideal for providing the appropriate support to the Lifeways management team, enabling them to capitalise on the significant growth opportunities in what is a fast growing, but fragmented market.”