MCLEAN, VA. and LOVELAND, COLO. — Mars, Incorporated announced June 13 it had completed its acquisition of Heska Corporation, an advanced veterinary diagnostic and product company based in Loveland, for $120 per share.

Heska will join Mars’ Petcare division, where it will complement the division’s Science & Diagnostic segment — specifically Mars’ Antech Diagnostics business — in a collective effort to support point-of-care veterinary diagnostics and expand their veterinary diagnostic offerings.

“It’s an honor to welcome Heska to the Science & Diagnostics division of Mars Petcare,” said Nefertiti Greene, president of Mars Science & Diagnostics. “Like us, Heska has grown into a purpose-driven business, supporting veterinary professionals globally. I am excited about what we can achieve with a full diagnostics portfolio across reference laboratories, point-of-care, imaging and technology solutions, rapid diagnostics, telemedicine and software solutions and services. We will continue to drive our R&D efforts to deliver innovative diagnostic solutions to help keep pets healthy, in service of our purpose: A Better World For Pets™.”

A definitive agreement for the acquisition was reached by both companies in early April and was unanimously approved by both companies’ board of directors, according to Mars.

“Today’s announcement is a great testament to the quality of our Heska family — we are small, but our people and their creativity, execution, expertise and value-creation have made us exceptional,” said Kevin Wilson, chief executive officer and president of Heska on April 3. “We are thrilled to join Mars Petcare on its quest to build A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS™. Working together, Heska’s innovations will more quickly reach more veterinarians to help more pet families live better, healthier, longer lives. That’s been our mission for over a decade and today is an incredible milestone towards realizing it.”

Heska was founded in 1988 and has since grown to support pet healthcare providers across North America, as well as abroad in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Australia and Malaysia. The company creates, sells and supports diagnostic and specialty healthcare solutions for the betterment of veterinary professionals.

Antech Diagnostics has been around for more than 35 years, also supporting veterinary practitioners through data-driven diagnostic insights, according to Mars. The division offers reference laboratories, veterinary imaging, and education and telemedicine services.

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