PRIVATE equity outfit Inflexion is one of the fastest growers in the sector and it moved into the region this year in spectacular style thanks to the high- profile takeover of Independent Clinical Services (ICS).

The company's victory in this category is largely linked to that single deal.

Inflexion has specialised in the UK small-to- middle market and thanks to a strategy of investing in proven businesses operating in growth environments, it has seen steady growth.

Since the company was first set up in 1998, it has remained resolutely committed to the lower mid-market.

Inflexion operates out of offices in London and Manchester but has been building a profile in the West Country.

Earlier this year, Inflexion added Independent Clinical Services, formally Thornbury, to its portfolio.

ICS is one of the country's leading nursing staff agencies and it has gone through rapid growth since it was first set up more than 25 years ago.

the agency provided healthcare staff to hospitals in and around Bristol but it rapidly grew to the stage where it had a pool of over 20,000 highly qualified medical professionals listed on its books.

As well as working with the NHS, Thornbury supplied private hospitals and owed a large part of its success to the care in the community legislation.

ICS has carved out a niche position in the market as the "provider of last resort", a result of its ability to meet customer requests with far greater success rates than any of its nearest competitors.

As well as supplying nurses for hospitals, ICS's rapidly expanding community care business provides nursing services to patients in their own homes.

The home healthcare market is expected to grow massively over the next ten years as a result of a number of Government initiatives and an aging population in the UK.

ICS also has a third business providing temporary doctors to the public and private sector.

As a result of Inflexion's growing interest in healthcare, it was one of a handful of potential purchasers approached by the vendor. Once exclusivity had been granted, Inflexion took under four weeks to complete the transaction, made possible by the detailed preparation and strong commitment of its team.

The deal was led by John Hartz, Gareth Healy and Nicola Boyd on behalf of Inflexion. Both John and Gareth have joined the ICS board of directors.

Inflexion has taken a majority equity share alongside the management team.