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 undisclosed financial terms.
YuMOVE, a joint mobility supplement brand in the UK. for dogs and cats, also provides supplements that address digestive health, anxiety, dermatological and dental needs. Founded two decades ago in Hertfordshire, UK, YuMOVE emphasizes science-backed 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 leading solution for anal gland disease in North America, Vetnique and YuMOVE share a commitment to providing effective veterinary-endorsed supplements through a variety of distribution channels, including pets specialty retail outlets, veterinary distributors and direct-to-consumer .
This acquisition is also designed to expand 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 delighted to unite these well-known brands and expand our presence in two of the largest pet supplement markets in the world, the US and the UK,” he said. “Our combined portfolio significantly increases our company’s scale in the key areas of hip and joint and digestive and will enable us to bring science-backed formulations, clinical efficacy, and patented products to consumers around the world.”
James Bascharon, DVM, founder and CEO of Vetnique, will oversee North American operations, while Fiona Hope will continue as CEO of YuMOVE, overseeing operations in the UK, Europe and other regions. “Our vision at Gryphon has always been to create a global platform for pet health and wellness 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 products in North America.”
Hope highlighted the partnership’s potential to realize growth opportunities globally and leverage Gryphon’s resources and expertise to advance their mission to improve the quality of pet life. “We look forward to joining forces with Vetnique and together explore opportunities to realize the global potential of our complementary pet portfolio,” he said.
