NEWS AND NOTES

SmartPak’s Board of Directors has approved a majority investment in SmartPak by Henry Schein Animal Health.

Henry Schein, a Dublin, Ohio-based companion animal health distribution business, is joined in the investment by Oak Hill Capital Partners, a New York City-based private equity firm with experience in the animal health market. The remainder of ownership will continue to be held by the SmartPak management team.

“As someone who has spent most of his life serving veterinary professionals, I am very excited to welcome SmartPak to Henry Schein Animal Health,” says Kevin Vasquez, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Henry Schein Animal Health. “SmartPak and Henry Schein share a strong commitment to supporting animal nutrition and raising awareness of nutrition’s vital impact on overall horse health.”

The transaction brings together two companies focused on creating innovative solutions that support animal health, says Paal Gisholt, SmartPak’s president and chief executive officer. Gisholt will remain with the company in his current role.

SmartPak, based in Plymouth, Mass., is the largest retailer of equestrian products in the United States, and Henry Schein Animal Health is a leading distributor for small and large animal veterinary practices.

“Building SmartPak over the past 14 years has been a passion for the entire SmartPak team, so choosing the right partner was a critical decision for us,” Gisholt says. “We decided to partner with Henry Schein Animal Health because of its focus on providing the best products and services for delivering the highest level of quality clinical care to animals.

“We recognize the essential role of the veterinarian in enhancing the health of horses, and have designed our programs to complement the care that horses require from equine veterinarians,” Gisholt continues. “We look forward to bringing these programs to Henry Schein Animal Health’s veterinary customers. SmartPak was built on a foundation of putting horses’ health first, and that won’t ever change.”