Brothers Nick and Surindar Dhandsa, the chairman and marketing director respectively, opened the first site near Bognor Regis in 1981. Blackstone Partners, the US private equity firm, is thought to have narrowly missed out on buying the company, which was auctioned by NM Rothschild.

The acquisition of Britain’s seventh-largest care home operator will consolidate BUPA’s position as the industry’s biggest provider, giving it a total of 21,000 beds, 297 homes and sales of £535 million.

ANS has homes across the UK, although the bulk are located in London and the South East. The company employs about 4,000 staff.

Four Seasons, NHP and Westminster Health Care are BUPA’s main rivals in the care home industry.

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