PE Tech Report

NEWSLETTER

Like this article?

Sign up to our free newsletter

EQT-backed IVC Evidensia expands partnership

European veterinary care provider IVC Evidensia (IVC), one of Europe’s largest veterinary care providers, has announced an expanded partnership among its shareholders to support the group in driving its next phase of accelerating growth. 

The aggregated new investment from the expanded partnership transaction totals EUR3.5 billion and values IVC at an enterprise value of approximately EUR12.3 billion.
 
Headquartered in Bristol, UK, IVC is a leading veterinary services provider with a network of more than 1,500 clinics and hospitals and approximately 22,000 employees across Europe. Founded in 2011, IVC operates a decentralised model promoting innovation and clinical freedom balanced with integrated support functions such as procurement, veterinary advisors and clinical boards. With the purpose of providing the world’s best veterinary services by caring for pets and people, IVC is leading the way in bringing new standards to animal care and staff wellbeing in the sector globally.
 
IVC was acquired by EQT Private Equity in December 2016, through its EQT VII fund, and in May 2017 the Company merged with Evidensia, a Swedish veterinary group acquired by EQT Private Equity in 2014. EQT has supported IVC through hiring a new leadership team around CEO, Steve Clarke, and Chairperson, Kate Swann, and revenue has more than tripled since the merger.
 
As part of its long-term commitment to IVC, EQT Private Equity is making a substantial investment through its EQT IX fund, and with the transaction EQT VII is partially exiting its stake but will remain invested in the Company. As its largest shareholder, EQT Private Equity’s new investment is a validation of the successful partnership and continued potential for substantial growth in IVC.
 
Silver Lake, a leading global technology investment firm, is making a new substantial minority investment in IVC to help further unlock growth from digital and technology opportunities. Silver Lake has strong expertise and relationships in technology and plans to support IVC as it digitalises its business and develops cutting edge digital products and solutions.
 
Nestlé, which joined EQT Private Equity in 2019 as a minority investor and strategic partner, is also increasing its minority stake in IVC as part of this transaction. IVC will continue to operate as an independent business and this partnership will allow the Company to leverage Nestlé Purina PetCare’s leading expertise in pet health, pet nutrition and scientific innovation, while Nestlé Purina PetCare EMENA benefits from unique insights into veterinary care which help to improve and deliver advanced pet food solutions and first-class pet care services.
 
Steve Clarke, CEO of IVC Evidensia, says: “This expanded partnership underscores and reflects our vision for what great veterinary care can be.  We are very pleased about the strong renewed commitment from our largest shareholder EQT Private Equity, who has built this company and set the foundation for its sustained growth, and Nestlé Purina PetCare EMENA, with whom we have a powerful partnership combining unique insights across pet nutrition and veterinary care. We believe that we can accelerate our growth through various digital opportunities and are excited to welcome Silver Lake to the shareholder group, who together with EQT, will support us with expanding our digital products and solutions. The totality of this new partnership is exciting and we look forward to together building a digital ecosystem around IVC.”
 
Per Franzén, Partner and Investment Advisor to EQT Private Equity, says: “We have seen tremendous growth over the past several years and the additional investments will help to fuel IVC’s continued innovation in veterinary care and cement its leadership position in Europe. EQT Private Equity is delighted to both welcome Silver Lake as an investor and continue with the strong support from IVC’s existing partner, Nestlé Purina PetCare EMENA.”
 
Simon Patterson, Managing Director of Silver Lake and Co-Head of EMEA, says: “IVC is a strong, well-managed business investing effectively in digital technology to create better outcomes for customers and clinicians. We are excited to partner with the existing investors and the highly talented management team to help the company accelerate the implementation of its digital strategy and build a world-class direct-to-consumer platform for pet care.”
 
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. It is expected to close in Q2 2021 at the latest. Goldman Sachs and Jefferies acted as financial advisors to the sellside. JP Morgan and Numis acted as financial advisors to Silver Lake.
 
With this transaction, EQT IX is expected to be 35-40 per cent invested (including closed and/or signed investments, announced public offers, if applicable, and less any expected syndication) based on its target fund size, and subject to customary regulatory approvals.
 

Like this article? Sign up to our free newsletter

MOST POPULAR

FURTHER READING

Featured