Craegmoor Healthcare is the UK's leading independent provider of care and support for adults with development disabilities and a significant provider of elderly care.

At the time of our investment, Craegmoor employed over 6,000 staff and operated 162 special care, support and rehabilitation services; 16 independent hospitals and 37 elderly care centres; totalling more than 4,000 beds across the UK, Wales and Scotland. In 2007, total sales were £164 million.

Advent recognised the improvements the, then new, management team had achieved and has further built on the positive momentum this created. In addition, the company's debt was reduced by 25% providing operational headroom and growth capital.

The management team has been further expanded, quality of care improved and new specialist lines developed. The continued focus is on operational efficiencies as well as completing the residential estate's cath-up investment programme.

Organic growth will come from an increasing demand for such specialist services, driven by an overall growing population but also by rising levels of learning disability (LD) acuity in the young adult population; improved life expectancy of the LD population and an increase in the number of lone-parent households as well as ageing carers. In addition, the speciality care market is highly fragmented and as market leader, Craegmoor is well positioned to lead the consolidation in this sector.