Sharks, Mafia and swingeing job cuts - just some of the stories surrounding the saga of formerly private equity-owned care home operator Southern Cross Healthcare – aren’t the best PR for the buyout industry’s investments in the residential care sector. But UK-based HgCapital hasn’t been deterred from announcing a similar acquisition amidst of the controversy over the impact of Blackstone Group’s ownership of Southern Cross.

HgCapital has bought Mainio Vire, a Finnish company whose business comprises elderly care, mental health care, child day care and home services, according to a statement. The company has 1,675 beds and seven day care centres for children, and employs about 1,150 staff.