Private equity firm ISIS Equity Partners has exited SLC Group, selling the community support service business to Lifeways Community Care for an undisclosed amount.

Private equity firm ISIS Equity Partners has exited SLC Group, selling the community support service business to Lifeways Community Care for an undisclosed amount.

Lancashire-based SLC provides living and specialist community support services for people with learning disabilities and physical disabilities, as well as mental health and sensory needs, including people from within the deaf and blind communities.

ISIS invested in SLC through the ISIS III fund in December 2006. Since the initial investment, the company has completed five acquisitions, which dramatically increased SLC’s client base and geographical spread, including Raglin Care in September 2007. The number of service users has increased from about 200 to more than 900.

Founded in 1995, Lifeways provides services to support people with complex needs. The acquisition is part of a buy-and-build strategy for Lifeways, which last month completed two further purchases to expand its mental health services. The acquired Liverpool-based businesses were Independent Living Alliance Limited and Natural Networks Limited.

SLC chief executive Charles Eggleston comments, ‘In the last five years we have been able to build on the foundations of the original Paragon business and create a scalable, high quality suppo