VetPartners to expand across Europe

VetPartners are intending to obtain three more Italian practices in order to expand across Europe. This week the company will join with three small animal practices in the north of Italy, in the following locations: Florence, Parma and Ferrara, and has made the joint owner of the Ospedale Degli Animali practice, David Giraldi, their Italian based Managing Director.

Mr Giraldi stated: “It’s a great privilege to join VetPartners and particularly to be the first Italian practices. I have always been fascinated by the rapid growth of VetPartners in England and thought that a very strong inspiring leadership, solid values coupled with advanced management skills are the reason.”

The practices obtained are VetPartner’s first undertaking outside the UK and they are set to further expand into Italy, as three additional practices will join them by the end of the year. They have been looking to expand across Europe into locations such as the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and France. To help this they have managed to boost their growth with support of BCPartners, which has 17 billion euros worth of assets under management in private credit and equity throughout the globe.

The CEO of VetPartners, Jo Malone, stated: “Our aim for some time has been to expand outside of the UK. There has been a lot of interest and the phone has been ringing off the hook. The main reason for the interest is people looking for a future as part of a larger team, where their practice can thrive and they feel supported. We have some of the UK’s best veterinary businesses across small animal, equine, mixed and farm, and 2020 will see further growth in each of our species groups, both in the UK and Europe. We are creating a platform of practices for future growth. While they will be part of the extended VetPartners’ family and there will be shared initiatives, this is an Italian company, led by an Italian vet and colleagues. They will have autonomy to create their own team. There are cultural and regulatory differences, however, we will help in any way we can. We have been looking at expansion in Italy for a while, but it has taken time to find people who match our ethos with a love of the profession and desire to safeguard it for the future. We believe we have found that in our new colleagues in Italy, so we are starting a new business there. It was also about finding the right person to oversee this. David is extremely knowledgeable and someone who has the profession at heart, not to mention huge drive.”