Real estate developer and investment company Simply UK has acquired Horizon Care Group’s six care homes in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire and launched Portland Care Group.

The deal was supported with funding from offshore funder Gazcob and French real estate investors Pierval Sante.

Horizon Care Group provides 498 beds in Sheffield, Pontefract and Worksop, and two development sites included in the deal are being appraised for future use. All 511 Horizon staff, including the local management teams at each of the homes, will transition to the new entity.

Simply UK stated it aims to have 60 care homes and 4,000 beds under its ownership by 2026. The company already owns and operates care home group Morar Living, which has six facilities between Inverness and Musselburgh, and has plans to open another two in Scotland, extend its reach into England with five new homes, and has started its first development in Ireland.

Neil Dobbie, land director of Simply UK, said: “The launch of Portland Care Group and the acquisition of these six homes marks the start of an exciting new phase in our growth strategy and underlines our ambition to become one of the largest quality care providers in the UK. Simply UK’s business plan will add between 800 to 1,000 beds every year to our portfolio and with excellent relationships with funders and confidence in the brand, we are confident that this is not overly ambitious.

“We will grow the Portland Care Group and Morar Living brands in tandem, with a combination of strategic acquisitions of existing care providers, and developing new-build sites in areas where there is a clear demand for the highest quality of care.

“Horizon was a well-respected care home provider and under the Portland brand there will be a seamless transition of customers and staff, with substantial funds available to improve the offering and to take it to another level.”

Rob McDonald, managing director of Portland Care Group, commented: “All of the care homes now under the Portland banner will benefit from a review of existing services and a general upgrade programme to improve the facilities. We are delighted to have retained all the 500-plus skilled and committed staff, including the senior management teams in each home, ensuring there will be no discernible change in the relationships with residents or the standards of service provided.

“As Portland Care Group continues to grow we will be looking to fill a variety of positions and to offer the high-level training and mentoring required for people interested in taking up rewarding careers in the care sector.”

DLA Piper was the solicitor for Portland Care Group.