Swedencare AB has acquired NaturVet, a pet supplement maker based in Temecula, CA, for $447.5 million.
Through the acquisition Swedencare will achieve “a very strong presence within premium products for the pet healthcare market in the U.S.,” according to a press release. At the same time, NaturVet’s products “can gradually be offered within Swedencare’s global distribution network.”
NaturVet founder and CEO Scott Garmon and his management team will continue to lead the company.
“I am excited about our transaction with Swedencare as it will enhance our ability to introduce new categories from the Swedencare Group offerings and continue to grow our industry leading products like ArthriSoothe, Quiet Moments, GrassSaver and No Scoot,” Garmon said. “NaturVet will also be completing our third soft chew line, increasing production capacity by 100%, thus allowing us to lead the industry with our 98% fill rate.”
The deal consists of $400 million in cash and an issue-in-kind of 3,854,978 shares in Swedencare. A condition-based purchase price (earn-out) of a maximum of approximately $27.5 million may be paid if certain conditions are met as of June 30.
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NaturVet (Garmon Corp.), which was founded in 1994 by the owner and CEO Scott Garmon, has an in-house developed portfolio of premium products in about twenty categories which are manufactured in the company’s own production facility in California. The products are offered primarily through the retail segment with approximately 15,000 pet shops and through the large online platforms like chewy.com and Amazon.
NaturVet’s products are ranked as the #1 pet supplement brand in four of the top five pet chains in the U.S. The product portfolio includes therapy areas such as joint, digestion and allergies. The company is at the forefront of product development and has a fast process of transforming ideas to product launches. In 2022, a completely new product series will be launched with superfoods focused on millennials who have acquired their first pet.
The company’s production facility maintains a very high standard both in terms of quality and efficiency, while at the same time it handles most forms of distribution such as powders, liquid, chews, soft chews.
NaturVet’s sales for 2020 were USD 48.4 million with an adjusted EBITDA of USD 15.3 million (31.7%). Corresponding sales for TTM October 2020- September 2021 were USD 60.6 million with an adjusted EBITDA of USD 18.9 million (31.1%). Preliminary, un-audited, financial statements for the financial year 2021 show sales of USD 63.9 million and adjusted EBITDA of USD 20.9 million (32.7%).
The purchase price of USD 447.5 million, on a cash- and debt-free basis, (approximately SEK 4 148 million) correlates to 21.4 times the adjusted preliminary EBITDA-result in 2021. Upon full payment of the earn-out payment (USD 27.5 million), the total purchase price correlates to 22.7 times the company’s adjusted preliminary EBITDA-result in 2021.
Scott Garmon will continue to lead the company together with his experienced management team. Garmon will also become one of the largest shareholders of Swedencare.
”NaturVet is a dream partner and the acquisition means that we take a big leap towards our goal to become a leading global pet healthcare group within nutraceutical and dermatology premium products to pets and companion horses. Through the acquisition, we get a broad, well-known and appreciated product portfolio, a high-quality product facility that can be considered a leader in soft chews and fantastic customer coverage in the US as we now add to our approximately 15,000 veterinary clinics the same number of pet shops while increasing our online share significantly. With Scott Garmon and his very experienced management team together with our entrepreneurial management teams in the subsidiaries in the US and Europe we have a great setup for a continued exciting development. We have identified a number of very interesting synergy projects that will further increase our growth rate.” says Håkan Lagerberg, CEO of Swedencare.
“I am excited about our transaction with Swedencare as it will enhance our ability to introduce new categories from the Swedencare Group offerings and continue to grow our industry leading products like ArthriSoothe, Quiet Moments, GrassSaver, and No Scoot. NaturVet will also be completing our third soft chew line, increasing production capacity by 100%, thus allowing us to lead the industry with our 98% fill rate.” says Scott Garmon.
The Swedencare Group
The Group, after the acquisitions, had TTM October 2020 – September 2021 (pro forma) sales of approximately SEK 1 611 million with an adjusted EBITDA-result of approximately SEK 461 million, corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 29%.
Further information regarding the acquisition can be found on the website of Swedencare www.swedencare.com. For further information about NaturVet, see the company’s website www.naturvet.com.
Financing
The board of Swedencare has decided to investigate the possibility to initiate a directed new share issue to Swedish and international investors which, together with an acquisition bank credit, is intended to finance the cash part of the acquisition purchase price. The outcome of this will be published before the market opens on the 27th January 2022. For more information, see separate press release.
The sellers of NaturVet have entered into a customary lock-up with the Company of 12 months for 3/3 of the shares, 24 months for 2/3 of the shares and 36 months for 1/3 of the shares following the completion of the Share Issue.
Advisors
The Law firm Advokatfirman Lindahl KB has assisted Swedencare with advice in the transaction.
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