We have advised Sullivan Street Partners and The UKAT Group on UKAT's acquisition of The Providence Projects, one of the country's oldest and most respected rehabilitation centres.
The UKAT Group is the UK's leading, residential addiction treatment group. This is UKAT's first strategic acquisition since 2020, completed under the stewardship of Sullivan Street Partners, and represents a significant expansion of the group's capacity and geographic reach.
Based in Bournemouth, The Providence Projects was founded in 1996. It operates a 44-bed facility following a Floridian-inspired daily housing and therapy model, and is recognised for its compassionate, results-driven care having supported thousands of individuals through addiction treatment, including celebrity clients.
The Providence Projects is one of the few private facilities in the UK offering affordable, community-based secondary long-term care and supported reintegration services. With this transaction, UKAT can offer and expand these services and increase its treatment capacity, further improving patient outcomes, driving sustainable recovery and solidifying its position as the largest private addiction treatment provider in the UK.
Adam Griffiths, Corporate Partner, said: "This transaction represents a key strategic step for UKAT, combining two organisations with shared values and complementary strengths. We're very pleased to have supported UKAT and Sullivan Street Partners on this important step forward, which expands access to high-quality addiction treatment services."
Commenting on the matter, Daniel Gerrard, CEO of The UKAT Group, said: "We're honoured to welcome The Providence Projects into the UKAT family. This is more than a strategic acquisition - it's a meeting of minds and missions. It's been great working with Taylor Wessing for the first time given their outstanding reputation in Healthcare M&A."
Oliver Marshall, Partner at Sullivan Street Partners, added: "We’re delighted to have completed the acquisition of Providence and bring a business of this scale and reputation into The UKAT Group. Taylor Wessing have been a long-term advisor to us and provided seamless service delivery on this transaction. It was great to be able to rely on their dedication and commercial acumen once again."
The team was led by Corporate Partner Adam Griffiths, with support from Patrick Quinlan (Partner), Annick Porter-Bredero (Senior Associate) and Harriet Lowe (Associate) in the core M&A team.
The wider team included:
- Corporate: Alex Walker (Senior Associate), Jordan Emery (Associate).
- Banking and finance: Martin Yells (Partner), Alexander Swayne (Senior Associate), Christian Wiltshire (Senior Associate), Rochelle Ampomah-Ababio (Trainee Solicitor).
- Real estate: Emma Oakley (Partner), Francesca Gibbs (Senior Associate), Joanna Bassett (Senior Associate), Anna-Mariya Angelinova (Associate).
- Employment: Sean Nesbitt (Partner), Christopher Whitehead (Associate), Charlie Pring (Senior Counsel), Will Liebrecht (Associate).
- IP and data protection: Sian Skelton (Partner), Megan Lukins (Senior Associate), Margarita Taliadoros (Associate).
- Disputes and investigations: David de Ferrars (Partner), Samantha Brendish (Senior Associate).
- Healthcare regulatory: Adrian Toutoungi (Partner), Nick Vollers (Associate).
- Tax: James Ross (Partner), Bridget Winters (Senior Counsel), Sally Robertson (Senior Associate), Melissa Hale (Associate).
- Pensions: Mark Smith (Partner), Afshan Mallik (Senior Associate).
