The Competition and Markets Authority has ordered Healthcare Ireland Group to halt its takeover of the operations of Hutchinson Care Homes while it decides whether to investigate the takeover.
The Competition and Markets Authority has ordered Healthcare Ireland Group to freeze its takeover of Hutchinson Care Homes while it looks into whether the acquisition could be anti-competitive and launch an inquiry.
The Northern Ireland-based group, which runs 38 homes across the region, announced its acquisition of the family-owned care group in December, adding its six homes across County Antrim to its portfolio.
The order means the businesses should be run as separate entities, with no changes to organisational structure, management or assets made while the CMA's 'initial enforcement order' is in place.
The CMA has not yet revealed when it expects to decide whether to launch an inquiry.
The group announced in March it had added 13 homes across Armagh, Ballymena, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Cookstown, Dungannon, Dunmurry, Enniskillen, Glengormley, Magherafelt and Portstewart via the acquisition of the Kathryn care home group, which it said supports hundreds of residents through a range of care, including residential, nursing, dementia, and respite.
