Growth at veterinary group with overseas acquisition
The York-based veterinary group, VetPartners has continued its expansion with a new Italian acquisition.
The firm which was launched in 2015 by chief executive Jo Malone a qualified vet, has been on a growth trajectory for a number of years following a £720m buyout backed by private equity firm BC Partners in 2018.
The business which runs more than 500 practices, has acquired Ospedale S Lucia in Verona, the main 24-hour practice in Verona and Centro Medico Veterinario Montecchio, a small animal clinic in Vicenza.
The deal has also seen the business, which was recently recognised as one of the country’s fastest growing companies, add Clinica Veterinary Colombo, a small animal practice in Camaiore, near Tuscany, and Clinica Veterinary Europa, a small animal practice in Florence to its list of practices in Italy.
This expansion in Italy follows the group’s move into the market in November 2019.
David Giraldi, managing director, VetPartners Italy
VetPartners Italy managing director David Giraldi says this is just the beginning and that the group preparing to welcome more practices, having had its expansion plans curtailed in 2020 by Covid-19.
Giraldi said: “We expect to have doubled the size of the VetPartners in Italy by the end of January, which is a great achievement because completing acquisitions takes a lot of effort due to Covid-19.
He added that the current pandemic had created opportunities for the business because “during times of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, people want a safe house for their business, where there is leadership, safety in numbers, organisation and structure”.
