Healthcare Staffing Report: Sept. 19, 2013

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Interim Healthcare buys UK firm

Interim HealthCare Inc., a U.S. home care, hospice and health staffing franchise firm, extended its footprint globally with the acquisition of U.K.-based Bluebird Care Franchises Limited.

The transaction closed on Sept. 10 and terms were not disclosed.

Bluebird Care is headquartered in Petersfield, Hampshire, England, and has more than 180 franchise operations that provide non-medical care services in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

With the Bluebird Care acquisition, Sunrise, Fla.-based Interim counts more than 500 locations and 250 franchise owner groups in six countries, for combined network sales of more than $850 million.

Interim HealthCare Inc. and Bluebird Care will continue operating in their respective countries as separate entities under their own brand names. Each company will continue to operate with its existing leadership team. Bluebird Care founders Paul and Lisa Tarsey as well as Simon Dalziel, who joined the company in 2006 to lead franchise development, will continue in leadership roles in the company.

“Last fall, we announced we intended to explore international expansion as one of our high priority growth opportunities,” said Kathleen Gilmartin, president and CEO of Interim HealthCare Inc. “Bluebird Care mirrors our mission and core values with a solid culture of care and a scalable business model delivered by a strong network of franchisees and we are very excited about our future together.”

Management and private equity firm The Halifax Group acquired Interim HealthCare last year.