Denton Wilde Sapte has secured its first instruction for new client West Private Equity, advising the financier on the £167m sale of Southern Cross Health Care to US buy-out house Blackstone.

UK-based West Private Equity was formed in 1999 and invests in a range of UK services industries, including healthcare, education and financial and media services. Southern Cross, which operates approximately 160 care homes around the UK, was acquired by the group in 2002.