SmartPak Welcomes a New Smart Partner

Acquisition by Henry Schein Animal Health Helps SmartPak Power Healthy Horses and Happy Riders

PLYMOUTH, MA May 22, 2014 – 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 Mr. 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/