IVC Evidensia

Who owns IVC Evidensia?

A group of investors owns IVC Evidensia. The largest, by its own account, is the private equity firm EQT. Silver Lake, another private equity firm, and Nestlé, the food company, hold minority stakes. None of them has published exact percentages.

What the records show:

• Companies House: the UK company, Inspiring Vet Care Ltd, sits under a chain of holding companies, each owning more than 75% of the next, up to IVC Acquisition Pikco Ltd (register).
• Filed accounts: Pikco’s accounts to 30 September 2025 say it is owned by IVC Acquisition Topco Limited in Guernsey, and that its ultimate parent is Islay New Group Holding SA in Luxembourg (accounts, filed October 2026). They don’t name a controlling party.
• The investors: in February 2021 EQT said it was the largest shareholder, Silver Lake made “a new substantial minority investment” and Nestlé, a minority investor since 2019, increased its stake (EQT, Silver Lake).

History

IVC Evidensia describes itself as “building the world’s best veterinary group.” Independent Vetcare (IVC) was set up in 2011 (Companies House). EQT invested in 2017 and combined it with the Swedish group Evidensia the same year (EQT: IVC Evidensia). In March 2026 the UK company changed its name from Independent Vetcare Limited to Inspiring Vet Care Limited.

UK presence

In the UK, IVC Evidensia operates under several well-known brands and has acquired many previously independent practices. Launching its inspiring vet care brand in February 2026, it said it runs more than 900 UK veterinary practices plus hospital, farm and equine businesses, with the new brand added alongside each practice’s local name (Improve International, 16 February 2026). Our directory lists each RCVS-registered premises separately, so its IVC Evidensia count is not directly comparable with the group’s figure.

Their rapid expansion through acquisitions has made them one of the dominant players in the UK veterinary market.

Regulatory matters

In 2024, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a market investigation into the veterinary services sector, examining concerns about pricing, transparency, and competition. IVC Evidensia, as one of the largest corporate groups, was a focus of this investigation. The CMA’s final report (March 2026) found the market is not working well for pet owners and set out a package of remedies, including clearer ownership disclosure and pricing transparency.

In July 2026 the government accepted all of the CMA’s recommendations in its white paper Our vision for a thriving veterinary sector, committing to replace the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 with new legislation that will license veterinary businesses (including large corporate groups like IVC Evidensia) and introduce a binding consumer redress scheme, expected to be delivered through a new veterinary ombudsman.

What pet owners should know

• Practices owned by IVC Evidensia may not always clearly display their corporate ownership
• Prices and policies may be influenced by corporate strategy rather than local decision-making
• Staff turnover can sometimes affect continuity of care