Veterinary group picks Fort Collins

FORT COLLINS – Twenty-six private veterinary practices from throughout the country have merged to create a national chain of pet-care centers with headquarters here.

National PetCare Centers, or NPC, was formed earlier this year with the intent of being a leader in organizing veterinary care into the future.
A company spokeswoman said the organization expects to add more veterinary practices to its fold rapidly.
Dr. Gary Burge, one of NPCs founders and its chief executive officer, recently told a veterinary-industry magazine that the group’s goal is to become the premier national provider of top-notch veterinary medical care and ancillary pet care.
A decade from now, he envisions a network of NPC hospitals working together as both full-service clinics providing 24-hour care as well as others offering services that include boarding and grooming.
NPC plans to purchase hospitals, consolidating some into one facility and keeping others as they are now.
NPC was formed through an equity swap among eight partners who eachbrought assets to the table. Each owner received a share of the company based on the equity contributed.
The partners include Burge, Bob Cartin, Ross Clark, Marv Johnson, Rich Johnson, Dick Thomes, Bruce Thomes and Ron Weiner.
Capital for acquisitions is being raised privately for now. Eventually, a public offering may be planned.
NPC has hospitals in Washington state, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa. The 26 original practices have been consolidated to 23.
The idea for a national holding company for veterinary practices came after the partners had been meeting informally for a few years to share ideas. After a time, members decided that their pooling of knowledge could create a new concept in pet care.
Last year, the practices that make up NPC grossed $20 million in combined revenue.
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