OCS has announced the recommended acquisition of facilities management provider Mitie in a deal valued at approximately £3.1bn.
If completed, the deal will create a UK-headquartered international facilities management group with combined annual revenues of around £8.5bn.
Both companies are major suppliers to the healthcare sector. Mitie provides facilities management services to more than 40 NHS trusts, while OCS delivers integrated facilities management across hospitals, healthcare estates and life sciences facilities.
Recent projects from Mitie include the launch of its PULSE restaurant and digital catering concept at King George Hospital, and an £11.8m contract with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust to support patient-centred services across five healthcare sites.
The transaction, which has been unanimously recommended by Mitie's board, remains subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearances and is expected to complete during the first quarter of 2027.
Under the agreement, Mitie shareholders will receive approximately £2.22 for each share they own, comprising a cash payment and a proposed final dividend.
The combined business will employ more than 219,000 people globally and operate across the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
OCS said the acquisition will strengthen its capabilities across healthcare, government, defence, life sciences, critical infrastructure and commercial markets.
The enlarged organisation will expand its portfolio of specialist services while continuing to invest in technology, operational excellence and workforce development.
According to OCS, this will enhance its ability to help customers meet increasingly complex operational, regulatory and compliance requirements.
"Subject to completion, we would build a British facilities management group that is better positioned to support the organisations that keep the country running,” said Rob Legge, CEO of OCS.
Both companies said the enlarged group intends to continue investing in digital technologies, including data and artificial intelligence, to support frontline service delivery and operational performance across customer estates.
Until the transaction completes, OCS and Mitie said both organisations will continue operating independently and continue delivering services to customers as normal.
