Mars to Acquire Heska, Provider of Advanced Veterinary Diagnostic Solutions

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Press release: Mars Petcare

Mars, Incorporated and Heska Corporation recently announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Mars will acquire Heska, a global provider of advanced veterinary diagnostic and specialty products for $120 per share. The transaction price represents a premium of approximately 38 percent over Heska’s 60-calendar day volume weighted average price and a premium of approximately 23 percent over Heska’s closing stock price as of March 31, 2023. The agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Upon transaction close, Heska will join Mars Petcare, a purpose-driven global business serving pets and pet owners through products and services within veterinary health and diagnostics, nutrition, innovation, and technology. This acquisition will enable the Science & Diagnostics division of Mars Petcare to expand its diagnostic offerings and broadly promote point-of-care veterinary diagnostics to the global pet healthcare community.

Nefertiti Greene, president of Mars Petcare, Science & Diagnostics division, said: “We look forward to welcoming Heska to Science & Diagnostics as we share the belief that diagnostic innovation is a critical enabler to providing transformative veterinary care. This transaction will bring together highly complementary businesses with a strong strategic and cultural fit that furthers our purpose to create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. This comprehensive diagnostic offering will mean broader coverage across diagnostic products, services, and technology, and will accelerate R&D for novel solutions.”

Heska chief executive officer and president Kevin Wilson commented: “Today’s announcement is a great testament to the quality of our Heska family – we are small, but our people and their creativity, execution, expertise, and value-creation have made us exceptional. We are thrilled to join Mars Petcare on its quest to build A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Working together, Heska’s innovations will more quickly reach more veterinarians to help more pet families live better, healthier, longer lives. That’s been our mission for over a decade and today is an incredible milestone towards realizing it.”

Science & Diagnostics includes Antech Diagnostics, a global veterinary diagnostics business. Antech has brought innovative technologies and solutions backed by scientific rigor and data-driven insights to veterinary professionals for more than 35 years. Antech’s range of businesses includes reference laboratories, veterinary imaging and education and telemedicine with board-certified specialist support services through Antech Imaging Services (AIS).

Founded in 1988, Heska sells, manufactures, markets, and supports diagnostic and specialty solutions for veterinary practitioners. Since its inception, Heska has been committed to bettering the lives of its veterinarian customers, their pet patients, and pet owners around the world through its point-of-care diagnostics and informatics platform. With a focus on investing in technology, research and development, and strategic partnerships with world-class leaders in diagnostics and treatments, Heska seeks to provide the benefits of breakthrough innovations to pet healthcare providers across North America and internationally, including Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Australia and Malaysia.

The transaction includes customary closing conditions, including Heska shareholders’ and regulatory approvals, and is anticipated to close in the second half of 2023.

Lazard served as the financial advisor for Mars, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as Mars’ legal advisor.

BofA Securities, Inc. and Piper Sandler & Co. served as Heska’s financial advisors, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as Heska’s legal advisor.