Devonshires Advises on Dual Merger as SYHA and Elim Join Places for People Group

South Yorkshire Housing Association Limited (SYHA) and Elim Housing Association Limited (Elim) have this week joined the Places for People Group. 

The mergers see SYHA and Elim becoming subsidiaries of the Places for People Group.

SYHA owns over 5,700 homes, including social housing, care and support properties, leasehold and shared ownership homes. They also provide over 30 care, health and support contracts with strategic partners including local authorities and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, health and social care services, and national government. 

Elim has 900 homes across Bristol and Gloucestershire. Its customers include individuals and families in social rented or shared ownership homes, people with experience of homelessness who are living in our supported housing and Gypsies and Travellers living on specially developed sites that Elim have built or manage on behalf of another Local Authority.

Steve Ashton, Chief Partnerships Officer at Places for People said: “We’re extremely pleased to welcome both South Yorkshire Housing Association and Elim into the Places for People Group. 

“This partnership enables us to invest with greater confidence in these homes and by bringing together our shared values and strengths, we’re well placed to deliver thriving communities for all customers. We’re also grateful for Devonshires’ guidance throughout the process, which helped ensure a smooth and effective transition.”

The multi-disciplinary Devonshires team advised Places for People Group on all key aspects of the mergers from inception including corporate structuring and governance matters, banking and treasury work, Care Quality Commission matters, due diligence and contractual implications. Completing two mergers simultaneously demonstrates the strength of collaboration and expertise involved, helping to provide a cohesive transition for all parties involved.

Sharon Thandi, Partner in our Banking Corporate & Governance team, who advised on the merger said: “We are delighted to have been able to support with these important mergers which will support the shared values and missions of the PfP, SYHA and Elim and help the organisations to deliver their future ambitions. These mergers create an exciting opportunity for the organisations to go further together and we are proud to have been able to support these projects.”