Local advisers at heart of Vanguard refinancing deal

MIDLANDS corporate finance firms advised Vanguard Healthcare Solutions on a £16.5m debt refinancing deal with bank AIB.

Birmingham-based Clearwater International’s debt advisory team advised Vanguard Healthcare, leading the refinancing negotiations for the company and raising senior debt facilities.

Regional law firm Harrison Clark Rickerbys provided legal services to Gloucester-based Vanguard.

Vanguard provides additional capacity through the provision of mobile surgical facilities – including operating theatres, endoscopy suites, mobile wards, clinics and day surgery units – to the NHS and private healthcare providers in the UK and abroad.

It has a fleet of 40 units in use around the UK and Europe.

The company has been financially backed by MML Capital since April 2009, when it underwent a management buyout from Nuffield Health. 

It is suggested that the refinancing of the existing senior debt and MML’s mezzanine facilities will significantly reduce the company’s cost of capital and decrease annual debt service by almost £2m.

The refinancing will also allow capital to be made available for investment in new units and services.

Ian Gillespie, CEO of Vanguard Healthcare said: “This deal is great news for the business, giving us the freedom to invest more in our fleet and further develop our business at a crucial time for the UK health service.

“The NHS is increasingly looking for ways of deploying flexible surgical capacity, to tackle the waiting list challenge and bring care closer to patients’ homes – so it is vital we have the infrastructure and the funding to be able to match this growing demand.”

Tim Littler, partner in the banking and finance team at Harrison Clark Rickerbys said: “We are delighted to have helped Vanguard Healthcare with this refinancing.

“It was completed in a very short timeframe and was another great showcase of the firm’s strong capabilities in banking and corporate finance.”