Pets at Home acquires two veterinary referral centres
Pets at Home has acquired two further veterinary specialist referral centres as it looks to build its presence in the market.
The company has bought a 76% stake in Cambridgeshire based Dick White Referrals for a consideration of £14.1 million. One of the UK’s largest small animal specialist referral centres, DWR treats over 5,000 cases each year.
Pets at Home will operate the practice as a shared venture model through which the founder, Professor Dick White, and the key clinicians, will retain 24% equity ownership.
The second acquisition is Cheshire based Eye-Vet Referrals, a dedicated ophthalmology centre with six veterinary clinicians. EVR already provides services to Pets at Home’s referral centres, NorthWest Surgeons, as well as to other primary opinion veterinary practices. EVR will also operate as a shared venture, with the founders retaining 10% equity ownership.
Ian Kellett, Pets at Home chief executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome both Dick White Referrals and Eye-Vet Referrals to the group. These new shared ventures represent another strategic step in building our presence in the specialist referrals market, whilst also enhancing our reputation with the UK’s veterinary clinicians.
“We have grown our specialist referrals division to four centres in just over a year and see further opportunities in the veterinary market that will deliver growth and attractive returns.”
