9-10-2023: 

Deventer, on Friday, 29 September 2023, GD Group signed the share purchase agreement in relation to the entire share capital of Animal Health Laboratories (Ireland) Limited. This Irish company offers an extensive range of laboratory services to large animal and equine vets, industrial stakeholders and farmers. They also offer advice on disease testing and herd health issues. The knowledge and expertise of Animal Health Laboratories fits very well with the offerings of the other companies of the group and GD Group’s ambition for further international growth. The lab is based County Cork, the southernmost and largest county in Ireland.

The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory was established in 2012. Before the acquisitions of the shares, Nicola White was the owner and Director of the company. The organisation with approximately 12 employees is accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Board to carry out BVD, IBR and Johnes testing in compliance with ISO 17025 and are participating in the Animal Health Ireland National BVD, Johnes, BEEP, Sheep and IBR Schemes. They are approved for CEM testing in thoroughbred mares and provide culture and Sensitivity testing for AHI cell check and mastitis programmes, industry and private customers. 

Founder of Animal Health Laboratories Nicola White: “It is the ethos of Animal Health Laboratories to provide an exceptional quality service with an extensive range of diagnostic tests to customers every day. The team comprises of experienced and qualified professionals. In GD Group we found a partner who provide experience, knowledge and are a perfect fit to help us achieve our goal which is to work with vets and farmers to protect animals and prevent the spread of disease now into the future”

GD Group’s ambition is to be a valuable partner for animal health. With the acquisition of Animal Health Laboratories GD Group sets foot in Ireland. This Irish organisation offers an extensive range of laboratory services that complement and enhance the service offered by the group and shares many of our values. 

Ynte Schukken, CEO of the GD Group: “The diagnostics Animal Health Laboratories offers in Ireland for livestock farmers and veterinarians shows many similarities with the services offered by other subsidiaries of GD Group. We see opportunities for synergy. This acquisition also marks the first step in veterinary diagnostics in Ireland in a region with many cattle and sheep. It will be GD Group’s first subsidiary in Ireland.”

About GD Group

GD Group is the parent company of Royal GD, Van Haeringen Group and others. GD Group’s ambition is to be a valuable partner for animal health, both now and in the years to come. Besides farm animals, the Group’s companies also focus on backyard animals, companion animals and horses, and also examines human and plant samples.

We are working towards a healthily expanding and efficient organisation. Besides growing our operations in the Netherlands, we also see opportunities for further international growth. The Group already has subsidiaries in Belgium, Germany, Austria, Norway and US.

In 2022 GD Group achieved a consolidated turnover of 66 million and has around 500 employees.