Vetnique Labs, a pet health and wellness company, has acquired Lintbells, known for its YuMOVE brand of pet supplements, from private equity investor Inflexion. The transaction, backed by Gryphon Investors, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, with financial terms undisclosed.
YuMOVE, a joint mobility supplement brand in the UK. for dogs and cats, also provides supplements addressing digestive health, anxiety, dermatological and dental needs. Founded two decades ago in Hertfordshire, UK, YuMOVE emphasizes scientifically supported supplements for chronic health conditions and is a certified B Corporation.
Vetnique Labs offers a range of vet-founded, vet-formulated and vet-recommended pet products, including supplements and topical solutions for digestive health, allergy and dermatological support and ear care. Known for its Glandex supplement, the top solution for anal gland disease in North America, Vetnique and YuMOVE share a commitment to providing effective, veterinary-endorsed supplements through various distribution channels, including pet specialty retail outlets, veterinary distributors and direct-to-consumer.
This acquisition is also designed to broaden Gryphon's presence in the pet health and wellness sector, complementing its investment in Heartland Veterinary Partners. Chris Slager, executive chairman of the combined company, expressed enthusiasm for the merger. "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.," he said. "Our combined portfolio greatly increases our company's scale across the key areas of hip & joint and digestive and will allow us to bring science-backed formulations, clinical efficacy, and patented products to consumers worldwide."
James Bascharon, DVM, founder and CEO of Vetnique, will oversee North America operations, while Fiona Hope will continue as CEO of YuMOVE, managing operations in the UK, Europe and other regions. "Our vision with Gryphon has always been to create a global pet health and wellness platform in the $3 billion supplement market," said Dr. Bascharon. "We are excited to build on our track record of profitable growth and help accelerate YuMOVE's products in North America."
Hope highlighted the potential of the partnership to realize global growth opportunities and leverage Gryphon's resources and expertise to further their mission of enhancing pet quality of life. "We look forward to joining forces with Vetnique and together exploring opportunities to realize the global potential of our complementary pet portfolio," she said.
