Crusader Medical Care, a specialist nursing care provider based in Cardiff has been acquired by Envivo Group. Grant Thornton’s Cardiff Corporate Finance team and Capital Law advised the shareholders with Grant Thornton also providing tax advisory services.

Crusader provides care for those with highly acute, complex care needs and challenging behaviours, including mental illness and acquired brain injury. It has an outstanding reputation for care quality with over 100 staff members and operates two care homes in the region. Crusader has been family owned and run since its inception over 20 years ago.

Envivo operates a number of residential and nursing care homes and supported living services throughout the UK including a number in South Wales, through its Fieldbay brand. Envivo, which is headquartered in Cheltenham, was supported in the transaction by Civitas Investment Management, a leading investor in specialist healthcare real estate in the UK.

Crusader Medica Care founder and director, Vincent Ashley commented: “Our business has developed a strong reputation for care quality and its commitment to our residents and staff. It was important that a suitable acquirer was found that would continue to operate the business in this manner and I believe that Envivo fits the criteria perfectly.

“I would also like to thank the teams at Grant Thornton and Capital Law for their help and support through this process, they have been truly outstanding, and we could not have achieved the result we did without them standing shoulder-to-should with us.”

Paul Mariner, Executive Chairman at Envivo said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Civitas to acquire Crusader Medical Care. Crusader is a well-respected, high quality care provider that will be supported by Fieldbay, led by Paula Lewis, which has homes across South Wales. We are looking forward to working with the Crusader management team to invest in systems and infrastructure to further enhance their quality, and to achieve excellent outcomes for the people the group supports, as part of the wider Envivo family.”

Grant Thornton Corporate Finance Director, Jamie Roberts added: “Crusader is an outstanding business and we are delighted to have completed this deal which has provided a successful exit for the shareholders. Envivo is an ideal partner for the business going forward and we are confident it will continue the Ashley family legacy.”

Capital Law Partner Tom Kelleher commented: “The Ashley family and the whole of the Crusader team have built an incredibly high-quality business providing complex, specialist care and support to their clients in the vital healthcare sector. It has been an absolute pleasure supporting them alongside Grant Thornton through the process and great to see a dedicated care provider such as Envivo taking the business forward.”