Closer Pets

Founded in 1986 by husband and wife Chris and Barbara Kirk, Pet Mate is a market leader in its pet product niche and has grown consistently at 15% per annum in recent years to over £2m EBITDA.

Background

Under the brands of Cat Mate, Dog Mate, Fish Mate, the company has established a reputation (over 30 years) for designing and marketing unique and innovative ranges of patented pet products including pet doors, feeders, watering fountains, and pond filters.

closer pets logo

From its headquarters in Walton-on-Thames, the company currently sells across UK, Western Europe, US and Australia. In partnering with CEO Andrew Lane, the buyout presents an opportunity to continue to deliver ongoing product innovation in technology-led products and to drive domestic and international expansion.

Status
Current
Country
United Kingdom
Strategy
Private Equity
Sector
Consumer
Entry
December 2019

I am delighted that Ethos have invested in Pet Mate to pursue our growth strategy over the next few years. Having worked closely with Ethos over the last few months, I know they share the same level of ambition as me and the wider management team.

Andrew LaneCEO

Pet products is a very attractive market with the ‘humanisation’ of pets and Chris and Barbara have successfully built a market leader in their niche. We look forward to working with Andrew and the wider management team to help deliver the next stage of growth in an attractive and growing sector and we are delighted to have given our private investors the opportunity to participate in an exciting journey.

Julian CarrCEO at Ethos

We are delighted to be backing Pet Mate, a long-established market-leader known for its range of high-quality tech-enabled pet products. The combination of current management with seasoned primary buyout operator Ethos, would seem the right fit to drive continued growth in its attractive end market.

James SalmonDirector at Shawbrook Financial Sponsors