Animates Veterinary Clinic (Animates) partners with IVC Evidensia

UK veterinary practice Animates has partnered with IVC Evidensia in a transaction advised by Initium.

Established in 2005, Animates is a Lincolnshire-based companion animal practice, offering a full range of veterinary services for household animals. Animates chose to partner with IVC Evidensia for their shared values and commitment to local, independent practice management, ensuring Animates remained under the same leadership and operated as it always had.

“Initium is experienced in company sales and acquisitions, where we were not, so the knowledge that they were ensuring we had the best deal available was comforting during an unknown process” – Rebecca Kuttel, Animates

Founded in 2011, initially as Independent Vetcare, IVC Evidensia is a global leader in veterinary care, headquartered in Bristol. As at February 2025, IVC Evidensia’s website states it delivers services from around 2,500 locations across 20 countries. These countries include the UK, wider Europe and Canada.

IVC Evidensia has grown through a combination of strategic acquisitions, private equity backing, and a strong focus on integrating veterinary practices while maintaining clinical autonomy. The group’s belief is that the best veterinary practices are those led by local teams, which is why IVC Evidensia focuses on developing its people by investing in continuous professional development through education.

At the time of the transaction, Rebecca Kuttel, Managing Director, Animates said: “We chose to partner with Independent Vet Care because we felt their ethos closely matched our own.”

Commenting on Initium’s role, she added: “Initium managed the transaction to ensure it was smooth and efficient. They are experienced in company sales and acquisitions, where we were not, so the knowledge that they were ensuring we had the best deal available was comforting during an unknown process.”