SmartPak’s Board of Directors has approved a majority investment in SmartPak by Henry Schein Animal Health, a leading companion animal health distribution business. Henry Schein is joined in the investment by Oak Hill Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm with experience in the animal health market, with the remainder of ownership continuing to be held by the SmartPak management team.
This transaction brings together two companies focused on creating innovative solutions that support animal health. SmartPak 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.
“As someone who has spent most of his life serving veterinary professionals, I am very excited to welcome SmartPak to Henry Schein Animal Health,” said 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.”
“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. 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,” said Paal Gisholt, SmartPak’s President and Chief Executive Officer, who will be staying on with the company in his current role. “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. 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,” continued Gisholt. “I’m excited by the possibilities that this transaction brings for the future. We will continue to deliver the exceptional service that horse owners have come to expect from us, and we’ll always stay true to our core values and mission of powering healthy horses and happy riders.”
To learn more about SmartPak, visit https://www.smartpakequine.com/
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness. With the success of this simple and convenient feeding system, SmartPak has continued to expand its offering of quality products, including its own line of more than 55 supplement formulas called SmartSupplements, and a wide variety of tack, equipment and supplies. The company has grown rapidly each year and is now the largest retailer of equestrian products in the United States. SmartPak’s success has been powered by a passion for delivering an unbeatable customer experience, and the company has been recognized with a Bizrate Circle of Excellence award as well as an “Elite” rating from STELLAService. A nine-time Inc. 500/5000 honoree, SmartPak is the only equine company ever named to the Inc. 500 list.
Henry Schein Animal Health, based in Dublin, Ohio, is a leading companion animal health distribution company in the United States. The Company employs approximately 900 team members, including 300 field sales representatives and 200 telesales and customer support representatives. Henry Schein, Inc. holds approximately a 75% ownership share in Henry Schein Animal Health, U.S. The Ashkin family and certain members of the Henry Schein Animal Health leadership team own the company’s remaining equity. With 13 strategically located, state-of-the-art distribution facilities and 10 inside sales centers, the company maintains a greater than a 99% order-fill ratio, accomplishing its mission of providing the right product at the right place and at the right time.
Henry Schein Animal Health partners with over 480 channel suppliers to bring veterinarians the broadest selection of products to companion animal, equine and large animal practices including: dentistry, diagnostics, diets, equipment and supplies, nutraceuticals, orthopedics, parasiticides, pharmaceuticals and more. In addition, the Company helps veterinarians grow their practice with its strategic Business Solutions including AviMark and ImproMed Practice Management Software, Henry Schein Financial Services, Henry Schein ProRepair, HRVetResource, Intelligent Inventory, Leadership Intelligence, MyVetDirect.com Home Delivery, Opperman Manual, Pet I.D. Cards, Privacy Edge Identify Theft Protection, Professional Development Program, VetPressOnline Client Communications, Veterinary Instrumentation, website development and more. For more information visit www.henryscheinvet.com.