Bain Capital to Acquire UK's Top Vitamin Brand Vitabiotics in USD 900 Million Deal
New Delhi: Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Vitabiotics, the UK's leading vitamin company, including its UK business and the wider VB Group, which includes Meyer Organics in India and operations in Africa.
While the deal value was not officially disclosed, the ET, citing sources, reported that the transaction values Vitabiotics at around US$850–900 million.
Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm, has announced that it has agreed to acquire Vitabiotics, the UK’s No.1 Vitamin Company, including its UK operations and the wider VB Group (including Meyer Organics in India and its operations in Africa, including VB Egypt), marking a significant milestone in Vitabiotics’ 55-year history and signalling the next phase of planned rapid international growth and expansion.
The transaction brings together one of the world's leading healthcare and consumer investors with one of the most recognized independent vitamins, minerals, and supplements businesses globally, creating a platform for accelerated international growth.
The UK will remain central to Vitabiotics’ brand, innovation, and category leadership. There will be no immediate changes to day-to-day operations, and the company will continue to focus on delivering for customers, partners, and consumers while investing in areas including digital capabilities, e-commerce, international distribution, supply chain resilience, and new product development.
Given Vitabiotics’ global footprint, the investment will be led by Bain Capital’s Asia Private Equity team and supported by the firm’s global platform. Bain Capital will bring local market knowledge in India, together with sector expertise, portfolio resources and global capabilities, to support Vitabiotics as it continues to scale its brands, strengthen its international platform, and invest in long-term growth within key markets such as MENA and China.
Vitabiotics was founded in 1971 by visionary scientist and entrepreneur, Professor Kartar Lalvani OBE, who pioneered the nutraceutical field and innovative science-based formulas, leading to whole new categories of supplements and sector-leading brands supporting specific health and life-stage needs, resulting in a unique portfolio of sector-leading products, including several household names.
Over the last decade under the leadership of his son, Tej Lalvani, Group Chief Executive Officer, the business has significantly accelerated its growth and leadership through product launches and partnerships. Having dedicated more than 30 years to working in the business, Tej Lalvani has played a central role in transforming Vitabiotics into one of the world's leading independent science-led nutraceutical companies. Outside Vitabiotics, he is widely recognised as one of the UK's leading entrepreneurs and as a Dragon on BBC TV’s Dragons' Den. As founder of the Group and in recognition of his life-time contribution and leadership in the supplement sector, Professor Kartar Lalvani will assume the honorary role of Chairman Emeritus on completion of the transaction. Professor Kartar Lalvani’s elder son, Professor Ajit Lalvani, has contributed his medical and scientific expertise to the business as non-executive director over three decades, alongside his distinguished clinical academic career.
The Vitabiotics Group has built leading positions across several of the world's most attractive VMS markets, including India, China, Egypt and the wider MENA region, supported by a unique combination of consumer trust, healthcare professional credibility and local market expertise. As the UK’s leading vitamin company, its portfolio of trusted brands includes Pregnacare, Perfectil, Wellman, Wellwoman, Osteocare, and the Ultra range, supported by strong consumer trust, healthcare professional credibility and a growing international presence.
Tej Lalvani, Group Chief Executive Officer of Vitabiotics, said: “This marks a defining moment in Vitabiotics’ journey. I'm incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to build on my father's vision to harness the power of science and nutrition to improve everyday health and, together with our exceptional team, help transform Vitabiotics from a British family business into one of the world's most trusted vitamin and wellness companies. This direction is not about changing who we are; it is about accelerating what we can become. With Bain Capital’s global expertise and investment behind us, we have a unique opportunity to expand internationally, accelerate our innovation and take our trusted brands to millions more consumers, while staying true to the science, quality and values that have defined Vitabiotics for more than 55 years."
Paan Sing, a Partner at Bain Capital, said: “Vitabiotics is exactly the type of business we support: a trusted, science-led brand platform with category leadership, strong healthcare professional credibility and meaningful presence across the UK, India, the Middle East, Africa and China. Our India team has deep experience partnering with healthcare and consumer businesses, and we look forward to supporting Vitabiotics’ next phase of growth.”
Rishi Mandaat, a Partner at Bain Capital added: “We see a compelling opportunity to help Vitabiotics build on its UK leadership and strengthen its global platform. Across Bain Capital, we will bring sector expertise, portfolio resources and local market knowledge to support investment in innovation, e-commerce, international distribution and operational capability.”
Completion of the transaction remains subject to applicable closing conditgions, including customary regulatory approvals. According to sources cited by the ET, although the financial terms of the acquisition were not officially disclosed, the transaction values Vitabiotics at approximately US$850–900 million.
Houlihan Lokey acted as exclusive corporate finance advisor to the selling party, advising on all aspects of the preparation, structuring, and negotiation of the transaction. Macfarlanes acted as lead legal adviser to the selling party, advising on all legal aspects of the sale and coordinating a large cross-border team. Rothschild & Co. acted as exclusive corporate finance adviser to Bain Capital. Kirkland & Ellis acted as lead legal adviser to Bain Capital, and Khaitan & co. acte4d as co-counsel advising Bain Capital on Indian law aspects of the transaction.
