Ansons Solicitors support August Equity with sale of leading pet cremation specialists

Ansons Solicitors has helped August Equity realise its investment in Pet Cremation Services (PCS), by supporting the UK’s leading operator of pet crematoria with their sale to VetPartners.

Based in Guilsborough, PCS operates a national network of high quality pet crematoria, providing clinical waste collection for veterinary clinics as well as delivering bereavement training for veterinary professionals.

In 2015, August Equity led a growth equity backing PCS CEO, Glenn Tuck, to grow the business and support the shifting structural demand from pet owners for human style pet funerals.

During August Equity’s ownership, PCS has completed eight acquisitions, more than doubling the number of crematoria to 14 sites across the UK.

VetPartners, who oversee 150 of the most respected small animal, equine, mixed and farm veterinary practices across 500 UK-based sites, has plans to further its European expansion this year, and the acquisition of PCS will allow the firm to grow its services.

The sale of the business marks another successful investment strategy made possible by the sound legal advice offered by Ansons Solicitors and their experienced Corporate and Commercial team.

David Lonsdale, Partner at August Equity, said: “It’s been a pleasure to partner with Glenn and the PCS team to fulfil their growth plan and we wish them continued success under their new ownership.

“August’s core strategy of identifying primary investment opportunities in structurally growing markets has proved successful once again, and we’re thankful to Ansons Solicitors for their valuable legal support, ensuring the process ran smoothly, without any unnecessary delays.

“For high-profile deals like these, it’s vital that the professional support we receive is of the highest quality, so the sale can go through promptly and without any issues.

“Throughout the entire process, Ansons operated with integrity and delivered expert legal advice and support to ensure a smooth process. I have worked with Ansons since August initially invested in PCS in 2015 and they are a great team. They have supported us and the growth of PCS and we look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”

Jamie Gill, Associate Director at Ansons Solicitors, commented: “When it comes to the high-profile sale of a business, there are a lot of potential legal issues that can arise if due diligence is not thoroughly conducted.

“From our perspective, it’s about ensuring the client receives high quality legal advice that allows the deal to progress smoothly, taking any potential stress out of the situation for everyone involved.

“We have enjoyed working with PCS and August Equity, and I’m pleased that the sale has gone through smoothly and wish August well with their future investments.”

The Ansons corporate team consisted of Hilary D’Cruz (Director), Jamie Gill (Associate Director), and Emma Benniston (Associate Solicitor) and assisted by Laura Pyatt (Associate Director) of the commercial property team.

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