Mars Acquires 800 Animal Hospitals For $9.1B
Mars Inc. is expanding its holdings to include more veterinary hospitals and animal services.
On Tuesday, the Virginia-based Nestlé competitor officially acquired VCA Inc. along with its 800 small veterinary hospitals throughout North America, the Houston Business Journal reports.
A doggy day care and overnight camp franchise by the name of Camp Bow Wow and an animal diagnostic imaging company are also included in the deal.
The acquisition, which has been valued at $9.1B, was first announced in January but was only approved by the Federal Trade Commission in late August.
To move forward with the transaction, the FTC required Mars to divest from 12 of the specialty or off-hours emergency animal hospitals in its portfolio of more than 1,900 across North America, the HBJ reports.
VCA will continue to operate as a separate business and will remain in its LA headquarters, but it will be within the Mars Petcare line, which includes Iams, Nutro, Pedigree, Royal Canin and Whiskas.
Wrigley gum and candy and Mars Chocolate also fall under the umbrella of Mars Inc.
