Strategic Growth Through the “Hello Student” Brand
Richard Huntingford, Unite’s chair, said Empiric’s Hello Student brand and concentration on non-first-year and postgraduate students offers a “high-quality and complementary portfolio” that will accelerate Unite’s reach into the returner student segment.
Empiric chair Mark Pain highlighted his company’s transformation strategy, aligning its portfolio with prime UK university locations. He called Unite’s bid “highly compelling” for shareholders and a recognition of Empiric’s differentiated market position.
The Road to Completion
The acquisition will be executed via a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement, requiring approval from 75% of Empiric’s shareholders. Empiric directors intend to unanimously recommend the offer, supported by advice from Peel Hunt LLP and Jefferies International Ltd.
Legal guidance is being provided by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP for Unite and Gowling WLG for Empiric. Completion is expected by mid-2026, pending regulatory clearance from the Competition and Markets Authority.
Once finalized, Unite will hold a £7.4 billion share in the combined portfolio, boasting around 75,000 beds in the UK’s most prestigious university cities—cementing its dominance in a sector where supply has lagged far behind surging demand.
