EQT says the deal will enhance VetPartners' clinical outcomes for animal care
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) and Johnson Winter Slattery (JWS) have confirmed their roles in the proposed acquisition of VetPartners by Scandinavian private equity firm BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII (EQT).
ABL advised National Veterinary Associates (NVA), which owned VetPartners as its Australia and New Zealand veterinary services business. Meanwhile, JWS advised EQT.
According to EQT’s website, the standalone investment will enable EQT to support VetPartners’ medical professionals in delivering the positive clinical outcomes to patients by drawing on its international experience in the animal health sector. JWS said that EQT plans to make major investments in diagnostic equipment, technology, innovation, recruitment, and continued professional development across VetPartners’ network.
The acquisition is pending customary conditions and approvals. It is estimated to close around the end of the calendar year.
The ABL team was led by partner Jonathan Wenig, with support from senior associate Luke Jedynak; lawyers Ryan Taylor and Vanessa Filipendin; and law graduate Ramon Callis. Tax partner Clint Harding and lawyer George Bassil assisted the commercial team, as did competition partners Zaven Mardirossian and Gabriel Sakkal.
ABL also worked closely with investment bank Jefferies, US legal counsel Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and EY as the Australian financial advisors.
The JWS team provided legal advice to EQT on all corporate and regulatory aspects of this transaction. JWS partners James Rozsa and Divesh Patel led the team, which included special counsel Jan Hards and associates Nathan Ricardo, Nathan Shapiro, Francesca Gazal, and Ella Furphy.
Bell Gully provided advice on the New Zealand aspects of the transaction.
