Valedo II invests in Evidensia Djursjukvård
February 14, 2012
New pet care group created by some of Sweden's leading pet care providers
Some of Sweden's leading pet care providers are merging to form a national leader in pet care under the name Evidensia Djursjukvård AB ("Evidensia") with the aim to create a leading quality-oriented pet care group with national presence. Evidensia initially has 5 hospitals, 10 clinics, approximately 140 veterinarians and is represented in 14 locations in Sweden.
The units forming Evidensia are some of the largest, oldest and most reputable pet hospitals in Sweden; Strömsholm Specialistdjursjukhuset Hund och Katt, Strömsholm Specialistdjursjukhuset Häst, Södra Djursjukhuset (Stockholm), Djursjukhuset Malmö, Regiondjursjukhuset Helsingborg, as well as 10 pet care clinics located in Västeras, Köping, Enköping, Eskilstuna, Gotland, Flyinge, Trelleborg, Skurup, Ystad and Höllviken. Overall, the group has more than 550 employees, of which ~140 are veterinarians and receives 170 000 patients each year. In addition to providing advanced and basic care for dogs, cats and horses, Evidensia is engaged in extensive research and education within pet care.
The pet care industry has seen healthy growth in recent years, driven by a growing interest for pet owners to care for their pets, but from having been very fragmented the industry is undergoing a consolidation, professionalization and increasing customer focus. Evidensia's ambition is to be a proactive and leading participant in this process and the aspiration is that Evidensia shall offer pet owners the most advanced care as well as quality basic care for dogs, cats and horses throughout Sweden. Evidensia's founding entities share a vision on how high quality pet care should be conducted and how a national pet care group should be developed and operated for the benefit of pets, pet owners as well as veterinarians, pet nurses and other employees. Furthermore, the operations are geographically complementary and have different niche expertise and resources that will be shared in the group.
"There is a growing need in Sweden for a professional pet care group with a clear focus on quality of care, that can provide the most demanding and advanced care as well as high quality basic care on a national basis. In Evidensia we have a shared vision and considerable skills, experience and resources to develop and grow the operations significantly in the coming years in favor of pets, pet owners and the veterinary profession." says Anders Thunberg, CEO of Evidensia Djursjukvård AB
"Several of the units in Evidensia have worked closely together for many years and the merger is fully rational given that the units complement each other geographically." says Göran Ask, Managing Director, Djursjukhuset Malmö
"In Evidensia we can already offer owners of dogs, cats and horses a full range of veterinary care but together we will, with our shared resources and skills, further develop and improve the offering." says Donald Ribbentjärn, Managing Director, Regiondjursjukhuset Helsingborg
"This is just the start, we have an ambitious and expansive plan and the next few years will be very exciting. We believe we will be an attractive partner for pet hospitals and clinics throughout Sweden." says Olof Skarman, deputy CEO and Head of Business Development in Evidensia Djursjukvård AB (former owner of Södra Djursjukhuset)
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Owners of Evidensia are the former owners of the group companies; Stiftelsen Strömsholm Djursjukvård, Stiftelsen Svensk Djursjukvård, Olof Skarman Invest, as well as management, key personnel and the Swedish private equity group Valedo.
The transaction is subject to certain approvals and conditions and terms are not disclosed.