VetPartners
Headquarters: York, UK
Also known as: VetPartners
Ownership Structure
Private Equity Ownership: Private equity firms typically aim to generate returns within 5-7 years, which may influence business decisions including pricing and cost management.
Reputation & Regulatory Matters
Subject to CMA market investigation into veterinary services sector
September 2024
View sourceEmphasis on practice autonomy and local decision-making
January 2023
Overview
VetPartners was founded in 2015 with a stated aim of creating a different kind of veterinary group - one that offers practices more autonomy while providing corporate support. The company was acquired by BC Partners in 2022.
Positioning
VetPartners markets itself as different from other corporate groups, emphasising:
- Practice autonomy and local decision-making
- Maintaining existing practice identities after acquisition
- A “family of practices” approach
However, these claims should be evaluated carefully - as a private equity-backed company, VetPartners ultimately faces the same financial pressures as competitors.
UK and European Presence
VetPartners operates over 600 practices, including:
- First-opinion (general practice) clinics
- Specialist referral centres
- Equine practices
- Farm animal practices
They have also expanded into Europe through acquisitions in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
What Pet Owners Should Know
- Despite branding as “different,” VetPartners is owned by private equity
- Individual practices may retain their names but are part of a corporate group
- The BC Partners ownership means focus on financial returns