July 2005                        return to newsletter contents page

The Butler Company and Burns Veterinary Supply, Inc. Merge

The Butler Company and Burns Veterinary Supply, Inc. announced that they will merge. The transaction will create the nation’s leading distributor of animal health products and services to veterinarians.

The combined company will be called Butler Animal Health Supply, LLC and will serve over 29,000 veterinarians in all 50 states, and distribute over 15,000 products for more than 300 vendors.

“Our new company will enjoy growth and expansion opportunities superior to those of either Butler or Burns as independent companies,” said Kevin Vasquez, President and Chief Operating Officer of Butler. “The companion animal market is expected to continue its healthy growth. As a larger, combined company, we will be better positioned than any other company in our industry to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. For our customers, this means an expanded suite of products and value-added services and an enhanced national distribution network. For employees, being part of a larger, growing company means more opportunity for personal and professional growth.”

“We are particularly excited about this combination because we will be able to offer veterinarians enhanced tools to help them manage their practice, to provide the best service to their clients and to drive their revenues,” said Kim Allen, President of Burns Veterinary Supply. “Our two companies share a common passion for customer intimacy and providing the very best in products and services. I am confident our shared values will make for a smooth transition and a successful merger.”

Mr. Vasquez will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed company, and Ms. Allen will serve as President of the Commercial Division, responsible for sales and marketing. Howard Deputy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Butler Company, will retire upon the closing of this transaction after seven years of leadership and dedication to the company.

As part of the transaction, Heritage Partners, Inc., the current owners of The Butler Company, has agreed to sell the company to Oak Hill Capital Partners II, L.P. Burns Veterinary Supply, Inc. is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of the Darby Group Companies, Inc. Butler and Burns will be combined to form Butler Animal Health Supply, LLC, which will be equally owned by Oak Hill and Darby. The new company will be headquartered in Dublin, Ohio and will continue to have significant operations in Texas. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. The transaction is subject to normal regulatory approvals and is expected to close sometime in the summer of 2005.