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Southern Cross Healthcare (Group plc) was a private provider of health and social care services, predominantly through the provision of care centres for elderly and some younger people. The group was the largest provider of care homes and long term care beds in the United Kingdom, operating over 750 care homes, 37,000+ beds and employing around 41,000 staff.〔Southern Cross Healthcare, (About us ), accessed 16 May 2011〕 Following rapid expansion financed by the sale of leases of its homes, its shares fell 98% from early 2008 to early 2011, reducing its market value from £1.1bn to around £12m.〔 It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index. ==History== The company was founded in 1996 by John Moreton, who was its chairman and chief executive until 2002.〔(Will this man finally manage to bring his software venture to AIM’s altar? ) ''The Times'', 9 February 2007〕 By 2002 "...it had 140 homes, was the third-largest of its kind in Europe and was heading for the stock market".〔 In August 2002, the management backed by West Private Equity and Healthcare Investments Limited, acquired Southern Cross through an £80m management buy-out.〔 In September 2004, a secondary buy-out of the business by the management together with Blackstone Capital Partners followed, for £162m. Blackstone then acquired care home owner NHP (Nursing Home Properties) for £564m,〔(NHP agrees £564m sale ), ''The Scotsman'', 30 November 2004〕 which saw a competition investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.〔(Brussels refers Blackstone bid for NHP homes to UK watchdog ), ''The Independent'', 3 February 2005〕〔(Blackstone prepares to float care home giant ), ''Sunday Times'', 1 January 2006〕 In November 2005, it also took over the Ashbourne Group of care homes, comprising 10,000 beds in 193 homes, for £85m.〔(Blackstone prepares £1bn flotation of Southern Cross ), ''The Times'', 2 January 2006,〕 Blackstone reorganised the business under a sale-and-leaseback strategy. Southern Cross Healthcare became a pure operating company, renting care homes from a number of companies, including NHP which became a pure property company. NHP was subsequently sold to investors. In July 2006, the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange, entering the FTSE 250 Index in September.〔(Standard Life to enter FTSE 100 ), BBC News, 7 September 2006〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Southern Cross Healthcare (United Kingdom)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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