Bain Capital agrees to acquire UK vitamin company Vitabiotics for international expansion

• Bain Capital’s Asia private equity team will lead the investment, supported by the firm’s global platform
• Professor Kartar Lalvani, who founded the company in 1971, will become chairman emeritus on completion
• Houlihan Lokey advised the seller, while Rothschild, Co advised Bain Capital on the transaction

Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Vitabiotics, including its UK operations and the wider VB Group, encompassing Meyer Organics in India and operations across Africa. The investment will be led by Bain Capital’s Asia private equity team, supported by the firm’s global platform, given Vitabiotics’ presence in markets including India, China, Egypt and the wider MENA region.

Vitabiotics ranks as the UK’s top-selling vitamin company, according to Nielsen sales data cited in the release, with a portfolio that includes Pregnacare, Perfectil, Wellman, Wellwoman and Osteocare. The company was founded in 1971 by Professor Kartar Lalvani, who will assume the honorary role of chairman emeritus upon completion of the deal. His son, Tej Lalvani, has served as group chief executive officer for the past decade.

“We see a compelling opportunity to help Vitabiotics build on its UK leadership and strengthen its global platform,” said Rishi Mandawat, a partner at Bain Capital. “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.”

Houlihan Lokey acted as exclusive corporate finance adviser to the selling party, with Macfarlanes as lead legal adviser. Rothschild, Co advised Bain Capital as exclusive corporate finance adviser, with Kirkland, Ellis as lead legal adviser and Khaitan, Co as co-counsel on Indian law matters. Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Editor’s note: This news brief was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence.