EQT and Vaaka's Musti ja Mirri acquires Zoo Support

EQT provided equity for the bolt-on, which is the first following the GP's secondary buyout of Musti ja Mirri from Vaaka in December 2014, which saw Vaaka's fund retain a minority stake in the newco.

Musti ja Mirri's acquisition will add 91 new shops in Sweden to the company's portfolio. The business plans to build on the Arken Zoo brand in the country while gradually merging its product assortment and sales organisations with the rest of the group.

Previous funding
EQT bought Musti ja Mirri from Vaaka in a December 2014 secondary buyout estimated to be valued in the €80-100m bracket, through the GP's €1.1bn EQT Mid Market Fund.

Vaaka first acquired Musti ja Mirri from owner Matti Varpula in June 2010, through a management buy-in.

Company
Zoo Support is the franchiser for pet store chains Arken Zoo and DjurMagazinet, as well as veterinary chain Vettris and pet-grooming spa chain Trimmis.

The company was founded in Stockholm in 1999 and currently operates 91 stores throughout Sweden.

People
Mika Sutinen is the CEO of Musti ja Mirri. Per G. Braathen is the chairperson and owner of Braganza.

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• Topics
• Nordics
• Portfolio management
• Consumer
• Sweden
• EQT
• Vaaka Partners Ltd (Formerly Pohjola)