Description of CVS’ business

CVS Group Plc is one of the Leading veterinary services provider in the UK. The Group has four main business areas: veterinary practices, diagnostic laboratories, pet crematoria and Animed Direct, our online business. The passion of our people for animals and for making your pets our priority is at the heart of our work every day. CVS operates 256 surgeries, usually trading under local business names. These surgeries include three locations which are wholly referral practices providing first class specialist treatment. We have also launched Pet Medic Recruitment business which recruits locums and permanent staff for both our own and third party practices and a buying group known as Mi Vet Club. During the 2013 we began the development of our own brand, MiPet, products. The first two products, Pro-bind (a gut protective) and Active+ (a joint supplement), were launched in July 2013. The own brand label will protect our market as well as our margins and, whilst the initiative is currently limited in scale, further products will be developed during 2014.

CVS(UK)Limited was established in August 1999 to acquire and operate veterinary practices which were well established within their local communities and had a reputation for high quality service. The Company strategy recognises that the value of veterinary businesses lies in the quality of their staff and the relationship they enjoy with their existing clients.




Professional management expertise and other services are therefore provided centrally to all Group practices, relieving them of their administrative burden and enabling local staff to concentrate on clinical care.

The Directors believe that several factors are currently contributing to a growth in the market for veterinary services in the UK, based on growing and ageing pet populations, advances in veterinary medical science, changes in the demographic profile of the human population and a growth in the pet insurance industry.

Building on these underlying growth prospects, and capitalising on other drivers that are encouraging vets to sell their practices to corporate operators, CVS has expanded by acquisition into the market and established a leading position as a national consolidator and operator of veterinary practices and laboratories.

CVS is incorporated in England and currently operates in England, Wales and Scotland.

Notification of Presentation and Interim Results
RNS
RNS Number : 2395M
CVS Group plc
19 January 2016

19 January 2016





CVS Group plc

("CVS")



Notification of Shareholder Presentation and Interim Results



CVS, the UK's leading provider of integrated veterinary services, is today providing analysts and institutional investors with a tour of its new Lumbry Park Major Multi Disciplinary Referral Centre, together with a briefing focussed on the strategy and operations of the group. No new material information will be provided.



CVS also announces that it will be releasing its Interim Results for the six months ended 31 December 2015 on 21 March 2016.

Interim results

· Sales growth of 23%

· Like-for-like sales increase of 3.0%

· Adjusted EBITDA up at £14.6m (23.7%)

· Adjusted EPS 14.7p (14.0%)

· Net debt £84.8m (June 2015: £46.2m) reflecting a significant acceleration in acquisition activity

· 42 practice surgeries acquired during the period and 8 after the period end

· Significant development of the referrals business with the acquisition of Highcroft Veterinary Referrals, Dovecote Veterinary Hospital and the opening on Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists

21 Mar Peel Hunt 850.00 Buy

31 Mar Berenberg 880.00 Buy

Sunday Midas tip -CVS Group is the largest veterinary company in the UK, with more than 350 surgeries, five laboratories that carry out diagnostic tests for vets and seven pet crematoria. The company also owns Animed Direct, an online store for medicines, pet food and other must-have pet products.

Midas recommended CVS in June 2009, when the shares were 142p. Today the stock is 748½p, down from 806p before the Brexit vote. At current levels, the shares are a buy.

CVS has expanded substantially over the past seven years, both organically and through acquisition, and profits have quadrupled. Brokers expect profits up 25 per cent to £24.4 million for the year to June 30. Further strong growth is pencilled in for the next two years.

Research shows that pets are increasingly regarded as members of the family, so owners spend more on their food, health and wellbeing. This should play to CVS Group’s strengths, whatever the economic outlook.

Midas verdict: CVS shares have been knocked back along with many other consumer-related stocks, but the reaction is overdone. Investors who bought back in 2009 should retain their shares. New investors may also find value at today’s price.

Director Deals - CVS Group PLC (CVSG)

Nick Perrin, Financial Director, bought 2,000 shares in the company on the 7th July 2016 at a price of 688.63p. The Director now holds 12,000 shares. NOTE: Average price Story provided by StockMarketWire.com Director deals data provided by www.directorsholdings.com

16:05 07/07/2016
Director Deals - CVS Group PLC (CVSG)

Richard Connell, Chairman, bought 5,000 shares in the company on the 7th July 2016 at a price of 688.63p. The Director now holds 97,891 shares. NOTE: Average price Story provided by StockMarketWire.com Director deals data provided by www.directorsholdings.com

Trading update

25 Jul Peel Hunt 950.00 Buy

29 Jul Berenberg 910.00 Buy

2 Aug Investec 880.00 Buy

Proactive investor -Profits set to fluff up at CVS Group plc
Share
15:44 22 Sep 2016
Veterinary group is expected to report full-year profits modestly ahead of expectations

CVS treats domestic pets as well as horses and larger animals
Veterinary services provider CVS Group plc (LON:CVSG) will aim to appeal to the City’s animal instincts on Friday.
CVS, which is unveiling full-year results, said in a pre-close update in July that it expected adjusted pre-tax earnings for the year to the end of June to be modestly ahead of market expectations.
The company, which runs a range of veterinary practices and hospitals mainly in southern England, said at the time that annual revenue had risen 4.8% against the first half’s 3%.
Investors are likely to look out for any deal news after a record year in terms of the number of acquisitions.
It acquired 67 surgeries as well as three crematoria, the Vetshare buying group and the VETisco instrumentation business.
“We continue to see a significant number of acquisition opportunities and are able to focus on those that offer the best potential for the group,” it said.
The City is also likely to look for any changes to guidance after the group’s July forecast of further like-for-like growth, albeit more moderate following a strong performance in the previous six months

Preliminary results


 
·      Revenue up 30.4% to £218.1m
·      Like-for-like sales growth for the Group of +4.8%
·      Healthy Pet Club members up 18% to 253,000
·      Adjusted EBITDA up 42.5% to £32.8m
·      Adjusted earnings per share up 31.2% to 32.4 pence per share
·      Acquired and integrated 67 surgeries during the year
·      3 surgeries acquired after the year end
·      Now operate 363 surgeries
·      Acquired 3 crematoria during the year

Broker Forecast - Peel Hunt issues a broker note on CVS Group PLC
BFN
Peel Hunt today downgrades its investment rating on CVS Group PLC (LON:CVSG) to add (from buy) and raised its price target to 1000p (from 950p).

Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

13:50 31/10/2016
Director Deals - CVS Group PLC (CVSG)
Richard Connell, Chairman, bought 2,109 shares in the company on the 28th October 2016 at a price of 878.50p. The Director now holds 100,000 shares. Story provided by StockMarketWire.com Director deals data provided by www.directorsholdings.com

Director Deals - CVS Group PLC (CVSG)
BFN
Simon Innes, Chief Executive Officer, bought 5,750 shares in the company on the 15th November 2016 at a price of 867.00p. The Director now holds 252,225 shares.

Story provided by StockMarketWire.com
Director deals data provided by www.directorsholdings.com

agm statement

24 Nov
Peel Hunt
1,000.00
Buy
24 Nov
N+1 Singer
N/A
Corporate

12 Dec
Berenberg
1,130.00
Buy

Placing

Result of Successful �30.2 million Placing & TVR
RNS
RNS Number : 8584R
CVS Group plc
14 December 2016
 
14 December 2016
 
Capitalised terms used but not defined in this announcement shall have the meanings given to such terms in the announcement of the Proposed Accelerated Bookbuild released earlier today. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.
 
CVS Group plc
("CVS" or the "Company")
 
Result of Successful £30.2 million Placing and Total Voting Rights
  
CVS Group plc (AIM: CVSG), one of the UK's leading providers of integrated veterinary services for small and large animals, is pleased to announce that, following its announcements on 13 December 2016, the Company has successfully raised a total of £30.2 million (before expenses) by means of an accelerated bookbuild with existing and new investors, and will issue 3,019,500 new Ordinary Shares (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 1000 pence each (the "Placing Price").  The issue of the Placing Shares is being made under existing authorities and remains subject to Admission.
 
Key Highlights
 
·     Placing to raise £30.2 million through the issue of 3,019,500 Placing Shares to existing and new investors, at a Placing Price of 1000 pence per Placing Share
·     The Placing was approximately 2.4 times oversubscribed
·     The Placing Price represents a discount of 3.85 per cent. to the Closing Price on 12 December 2016, being the last trading date prior to announcement of the proposed Placing
·     The net proceeds of the Placing, being approximately £29.5 million, will be used primarily to facilitate further acquisitions in the UK and the Netherlands, in line with the Group's existing growth strategy
·     Following Admission, the Placing Shares will represent approximately 4.76 per cent. of the share capital of the Company, as enlarged by the issue of the Placing Shares
 
Simon Innes, Chief Executive of CVS, said:
 
"The Board is pleased to conclude this fundraising with the strong support of shareholders and new investors.  We remain excited by the continuing prospect to build further on our position as a leading provider of integrated veterinary services in the UK, as well as by that in the Netherlands, which we recently entered with our first two acquisitions and which we see as offering a compelling opportunity to develop a business on a similar basis to our UK one.
 
"Our established network and experienced team offers significant opportunities for further growth, and we look forward to building further value in the business, through further acquisitions and continuing organic growth.  We remain focused on delivering excellent customer service and care and on providing high quality training and career opportunities for our staff."
 
Expected Timetable to Admission
 
Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM.  It is expected that Admission and the commencement of dealings in the Placing Shares will take place at 08.00 a.m. on or around 16 December 2016 and that dealings in the Placing Shares on AIM will commence at the same time.
The times and dates above refer to London time and are subject to change by the Company (with the agreement of N+1 Singer), in which case details of the new times and dates will be notified to the London Stock Exchange and the Company will make an appropriate announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.
 
Placing Shares
 
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be subject to the articles of association of the Company and credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of such Ordinary Shares after the date of Admission.
 
Total Voting Rights
 
Following Admission on 16 December 2016 the Company's issued share capital will comprise 63,412,323 Ordinary Shares. From Admission, the figure of 63,412,323 may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.
 
Related Party Transaction
Funds and accounts under management by direct and indirect investment management subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (together "BlackRock") are participating in the Placing, having conditionally agreed to subscribe for 456,004 Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing.  As BlackRock is a Substantial Shareholder in the Company (as defined by the AIM Rules), its participation in the Placing is a related party transaction for the purposes of the AIM Rules.
Following Admission, BlackRock is expected to have a shareholding of 12,173,262 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 19.20 per cent. of the Enlarged Issued Share Capital.
The Directors, having consulted with the Company's Nominated Adviser, N+1 Singer, consider the terms of BlackRock's participation in the Placing to be fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned.
 
Conditions of the Placing
On 13 December 2016, the Company entered into the Placing Agreement with N+1 Singer pursuant to which N+1 Singer agreed to use reasonable endeavours to place the Placing Shares at the Placing Price.  Under the Placing Agreement, the Company has given N+1 Singer customary warranties and indemnities.
The Placing remains conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms and Admission of the Placing Shares.