Acquisition adds bite to vet group
Solihull vet business Linnaeus Group has bought its West Midlands counterpart Shires Vets.
Shires Vets provides pet, equine and large animal health care services across its five sites in Staffordshire.
It will become part of Linnaeus Group, which was formed following Sovereign Capital’s investment in Willows Referral and Veterinary Centre.
Linneaus Group’s most recent published accounts, for a 16-month period to November 2015, showed an annualised turnover of £15m.
Will Jeffels, a partner at Shires Vets, said: “We are proud of the high standard of services we provide to our communities and knowing this ethos would be fully supported in the future was very important to us.
“We’re looking forward to bringing a new skill set to the group with our equine offering and also developing our practice further with the help and support of the team at Linnaeus.”
Ian Latham and Helen Brocklebank from RSM Corporate Finance, advised the vendors. Peter Ellis of Beswicks Legal acted as legal advisor to the shareholders.
Latham, corporate finance partner for RSM, added: “Shires is a trusted and respected veterinary practice in the Staffordshire area, and the partnership with Linnaeus Group will further enhance this offering – bringing together two businesses with the same dynamic, forward looking approach to animal care.”
