Ashurst advises PureHealth on acquisition of Circle Health Group
International law firm Ashurst has provided legal counsel to Pure Health Holding in its acquisition of the Circle Health Group, the United Kingdom’s largest private healthcare group.
Pure Health, the Middle East’s largest healthcare platform, has reached an agreement to acquire the Circle Health Group in a deal valued at AED 4.4 billion (USD 1.2 billion).
This acquisition marks Pure Health’s inaugural entry into the UK market. The transaction is a significant component of Pure Health’s comprehensive global expansion strategy, encompassing prior acquisitions in the United States and forthcoming market entries in other international regions.
The Circle Health Group is renowned for maintaining the UK’s most expansive national network of private hospitals. Furthermore, it specializes in groundbreaking neurological and musculoskeletal rehabilitation services and pioneering pathway management offerings. Notably, it is the first European healthcare provider to venture into the Chinese market.
The acquisition holds promise for both UAE and UK patients, as it will benefit them both through the diversity of choice in healthcare provision, expanded network of medical professionals and expertise combined with knowledge sharing that will be developed.
The Ashurst team was led by corporate partner Braeden Donnelly and senior associate Dillon Fuzi, and supported by relationship partner Simon Rahimzada (pictured), senior associate Liam Stoneley, associates Abby Buchan and Rosie Swanborough and trainees/apprentices Matthew Hall, Coinneach Pellow, Sasha Sawant, Alexandra Riley-Joseph, Melanie Soteriou and Divya Deivanayagam.
The wider cross border team included Shanghai and Hong Kong based corporate partners Michel Sheng and Joshua Cole with support from senior associate Sean Ching and associate Chloe Xiang. Competition advice was led by partner Neil Cunninghame supported by associates Victoria Beswick and Florence Chan. Tax matters were led by partner Simon Swann supported by counsel Mark Spinney and associate Aaron Robertson. Partner Bradley Rice advised on regulatory matters, assisted by senior associates Sophie Skeet and Adam Clenton.
Partner Rhiannon Webster, senior associate Adam Eskdale and associates Tom Brookes and Saif Khan advised on data protection issues, and partner Sunny Kumar and associate Emily McCracken advised on IP matters. Planning, access and environment support was led by partner Eleanor Reeves and assisted by senior associates James Nierinck and Joanna Fox. Partner Henry Moss advised on real estate matters, supported by senior associate Rabinder Sokhi and associate Priya Randhawa. Employment, pensions and incentives advice was provided by counsel John Gordon, senior associates Liz Parkin and Rebecca Servian and associates India Coultas and Leah Fisher. Global loans partner Briony Holcombe and senior associates Theo Palmer and Eilish O’Neill also advised.