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NSW government disability service privatised
An in-home care service for older people and people with disabilities has been sold by the government to a private company.
Felicity Nelson
Firms: Herbert Smith Freehills (Australian Unity); Baker & McKenzie and Ironstone (NSW Government)
Deal: Australian Unity has been successful in its $114 million bid to accept the transfer of the Home Care Service of New South Wales (Home Care).
Value: $114 million
Area: Government/Corporate
Key players: The Herbert Smith Freehills team was led by corporate partner Brendan Earle (pictured), with support from partner Nicholas Ogilvie, special counsel Yuban Moodley, senior associate Alex Bean and solicitor Madeleine Cunningham.
Deal significance: The NSW government has sold Home Care in preparation for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and aged care reforms.
The money raised through the sale will be reinvested in NDIS and related services.
The transfer is expected to be finalised by early 2016.
Home Care has a 70 per cent market share. According to a release by HSF, Home Care has more than 50,000 clients across NSW and has 4,000 employees.
The transfer will result in Home Care becoming one of the largest areas of operation within the Australian Unity Group and one of the largest home care providers in the country.
“This transaction will put Australian Unity in a position to deliver continuity of service and prepare Home Care for the national aged care reforms and full roll-out of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme,” said Mr Earle.
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