VetPartners has continued its expansion in Italy with the acquisition of four practices.
Centro Medico Veterinario Montecchio, a small animal clinic in Vicenza, has joined the VetPartners family of practices in Italy, along with Clinica Veterinary Colombo, a small animal practice in Camaiore, near Tuscany, and Clinica Veterinary Europa, a small animal practice in Florence.
Ospedale S Lucia in Verona, the main 24-hour practice in Verona, is the latest practice to join VetPartners Italy.
VetPartners is now preparing for further growth and expects to have doubled its number of practices in Italy by the end of the month (January) after entering due diligence with three other businesses.
The veterinary group is building a platform of practices in Italy after gaining a strong foothold in the country in 2019 when five practices joined the group.
ENTHUSIASM
The group’s Italy managing director David Giraldi is preparing to welcome more practices to the group after expansion was curtailed due to covid-19.
“There is so much enthusiasm for what we are creating in Italy and, even in uncertain times, there is great opportunity,” he said.
VetPartners, which has its headquarters in York, was established by CEO Jo Malone five years ago with the backing of a private equity group.
After building up a strong base of small animal practices across the UK, VetPartners moved into the equine, mixed and farm sectors in 2018. It now has 140 UK practices, with more than 400 sites and 5,514 employees.
To support its growth, the group is supported by international investment company BC Partners, which has Euros 17 billion of assets under management in private equity and credit across the globe.
