Explainers
Who owns UK vet practices? The six corporate groups and what to look for
Last updated 3 May 2026
Quick answer
Six corporate groups — CVS Group, IVC Evidensia, Linnaeus (Mars Veterinary Health), Medivet, VetPartners, and Pets at Home's Vets4Pets — together own a substantial share of UK first-opinion vet practices. The CMA's price-transparency remedies require every practice to disclose its corporate ownership on its website.
If you've been to a UK vet practice in the last few years there's a good chance it was corporate-owned, even if the branding looks like a family-run local practice. Six corporate groups together acquired hundreds of UK practices over the previous decade — a structural shift the CMA's market investigation found had material implications for pricing and transparency. This guide walks through who owns what, why ownership matters, and what the CMA's disclosure remedies require.
The six corporate groups
The CMA's 2024 market review identified the six largest UK vet corporate groups by practice count. They are, in alphabetical order:
- CVS Group
- UK-listed (LSE: CVSG). Operates clinical brands across small-animal first opinion, referral, equine, farm, and pet crematoria.
- IVC Evidensia
- EQT-backed. Europe’s largest veterinary group; operates an extensive first-opinion network in the UK alongside referral hospitals and out-of-hours providers.
- Linnaeus
- Owned by Mars Veterinary Health (Mars Inc.). Operates first-opinion practices, referral hospitals, and emergency / OOH care.
- Medivet
- CVC-backed. UK first-opinion network with associated 24/7 hospitals and an in-house out-of-hours arm.
- VetPartners
- BC Partners-backed. UK and European veterinary group operating first-opinion, referral, and OOH practices.
- Pets at Home / Vets4Pets
- UK-listed pet retailer (LSE: PETS). Operates the Vets4Pets / Companion Care franchise model with practices typically located in or near Pets at Home stores.
Why ownership matters
The CMA's investigation found that corporate-owned practices commonly priced above local independents on routine services. It also found that consumers rarely knew the practice they used was corporate-owned: branding frequently retained the original local name after acquisition, with no public disclosure of the new corporate parent.
Ownership matters for three practical reasons. Pricing. Corporate groups often centralise pricing decisions and supplier relationships, with consequences for the price of consultations, vaccinations, and prescription medication. Choice. If you switch between two locally-branded practices and both are owned by the same corporate group, you may not be getting an independent second opinion. Out-of-hours referrals. Corporate groups often own the OOH provider their practices refer to, creating a closed loop with limited consumer choice.
What the CMA's ownership-disclosure remedy requires
Under the CMA's 2025 final order, every UK vet practice owned by one of the corporate groups must clearly disclose this fact on its website and in patient-facing communications. The exact form of disclosure is set out in the implementing order; the practical effect is that pet owners will be able to see the corporate parent of any practice they're considering before they book.
Vet Cost Index surfaces the corporate ownership group alongside every practice in our index, so you can filter by ownership when comparing prices in your area.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out if my vet is corporate-owned?
From 2026, every UK vet practice owned by one of the corporate groups must disclose this on its website under the CMA's price-transparency remedies. Vet Cost Index surfaces the corporate ownership group on every practice profile, so you can also check there.
Are corporate-owned vets more expensive than independents?
The CMA's 2024 market investigation found evidence that UK corporate-owned vet practices commonly price above local independents on routine services. Pricing varies by service, location, and individual practice; like-for-like comparison is the only reliable way to confirm for your specific service.
Is there a list of all UK corporate-owned vet practices?
There is no single public register today. The CMA's disclosure remedies, phased in from 2026, will require every corporate-owned UK vet practice to disclose its ownership on its website. Vet Cost Index aggregates these disclosures into a single searchable index.
Which corporate vet group is the largest in the UK?
The CMA's 2024 market review identified IVC Evidensia, CVS Group, and the others as the largest by UK practice count, with the precise ranking changing as groups acquire and divest. The six groups together own a substantial share of UK first-opinion practices.
Vet Cost Index
A transparent UK vet-pricing index built around the CMA Vet Services price-transparency remedies. The comparison index opens as practices publish their disclosures.