Vetnique Labs, a prominent pet health and wellness company, announced its agreement to acquire Lintbells, the UK-based maker of YuMOVE pet supplements.
The acquisition is backed by Gryphon Investors, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, though financial terms have not yet been disclosed.
YuMOVE is the UK’s leading joint mobility supplement for dogs and cats and also offers products for digestive health, anxiety, dermatological, and dental needs. Founded two decades ago by Dr. John Howie DL and John Davies, YuMOVE is headquartered in Hertfordshire, UK. The company is dedicated to providing scientifically supported supplements to manage chronic health conditions in pets. YuMOVE is also a certified B Corporation, recognised for its high standards in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.
Vetnique’s Product Range
Vetnique develops a range of specialty pet products, which are vet-founded, vet-formulated, and vet-recommended. These include supplements and topical solutions for digestive health, allergy and dermatological support, and ear care. The company is best known for its Glandex supplement, North America’s leading solution for anal gland disease. Both Vetnique and YuMOVE operate as omnichannel businesses, offering their products through pet specialty retail outlets, veterinary distributors, as well as direct-to-consumer channels.
Chris Slager, Executive Chairman of the newly combined company, expressed enthusiasm about the merger, stating, “We are thrilled to unite these well-known brands and expand our presence in two of the largest pet supplement markets in the world, the U.S. and the U.K. Our combined portfolio greatly increases our company’s scale across the key areas of hip & joint and digestive health and will allow us to bring science-backed formulations, clinical efficacy, and patented products to consumers worldwide.”
Vetnique founder James Bascharon, DVM, will remain CEO of Vetnique, overseeing North American operations. Fiona Hope will continue as CEO of YuMOVE, managing operations in the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world.
Expanding Global Presence
Dr. Bascharon remarked, “Our vision with Gryphon has always been to create a global pet health and wellness platform in the $3 billion supplement market. We are excited to build on our track record of profitable growth and help accelerate YuMOVE’s products in North America. Together we can broaden our offering of differentiated products and solutions that are consistently recommended by veterinarians and provide real and lasting benefits for pets.”
Fiona Hope added, “We look forward to joining forces with Vetnique and together exploring opportunities to realise the global potential of our complementary pet portfolio. We are also excited to gain access to Gryphon’s resources and expertise, which we believe will reinforce our mission of enhancing the quality of life for pets and can help unlock significant value during our partnership.”
Gryphon’s Investment Portfolio
The transaction significantly expands Gryphon’s pet products portfolio. Besides Vetnique, Gryphon also has a presence in the broader pet health and wellness ecosystem through its 2019 investment in veterinary support organisation Heartland Veterinary Partners.
Matt Farron, Deal Partner and Co-Head of Gryphon’s Consumer Group, and Eddie Douglas, Managing Director in the Consumer Group, commented, “We have been proud to support James and his outstanding team over the past 12 months, and we are delighted to help Vetnique achieve the next step of its growth by partnering with Fiona and her organisation at YuMOVE. We believe that together this platform is a leader in highly efficacious pet health and wellness that stands for quality, research, innovation, and sustainability.”
