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In a sweeping move that redraws the landscape of Britain’s eldercare market, Safanad Sells HC-One for more than $1.6 billion, ending a 10-year chapter that transformed the care-home operator into a dominant force across the United Kingdom.

The principal-led investment firm announced Monday that it has divested HC-One to a healthcare real estate investment trust. While the buyer’s identity was not disclosed, the price tag signals one of the sector’s most significant transactions in recent years.

A Care Giant Changes Hands

HC-One operates nearly 300 homes and provides services to roughly 15,000 residents across the U.K., positioning it as a cornerstone of the country’s residential, dementia and nursing care network. According to its website, the company delivers a range of services tailored to elderly and vulnerable individuals — a sector under constant demographic and regulatory pressure.

The deal transfers ownership of what Safanad describes as the U.K.’s largest care-home platform to a healthcare-focused REIT, a structure often used to blend property ownership with long-term healthcare operations.

“A Defining Investment”

Safanad founder and CEO Kamal Bahamdan characterized the transaction as the culmination of a partnership-driven strategy rather than a simple exit.

“HC-One has been a defining investment for Safanad and a clear example of our long-term, partnership-driven approach,” Bahamdan said. Over the past decade, he added, Safanad worked closely with the company’s management to fortify its operational backbone, upgrade systems and elevate care standards for thousands of residents nationwide.

He said the company modernized operations, strengthened governance and laid what he described as a durable foundation for future growth. Bahamdan expressed confidence that HC-One is positioned for its “next chapter” under new ownership, while Safanad continues expanding its global healthcare footprint.

A Decade of Expansion and Modernization

The sale caps a 10-year investment period during which Safanad said it helped propel HC-One’s rise through both organic growth and four strategic bolt-on acquisitions. Like adding extensions to a sprawling estate, each acquisition broadened the platform’s reach and operational scale.

Safanad said it committed substantial capital toward infrastructure improvements, digital transformation and operational modernization. Those investments, according to the firm, enhanced performance metrics, strengthened corporate governance and improved the quality of care delivered across its facilities.

The transaction underscores Safanad’s broader strategy: forging long-term partnerships and channeling capital into social infrastructure assets worldwide — sectors where steady demand meets structural societal shifts.

Pivot Toward the Gulf

Looking ahead, Safanad signaled a geographic recalibration. The firm said it will intensify its focus on Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf region, citing structural transformation efforts that present long-term value creation opportunities. At the same time, Safanad intends to deepen its presence in global healthcare markets.

A representative for HC-One did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the sale.

As of Monday, details about the legal advisers guiding the transaction were not available.