IK PARTNERS takes majority stake in Innovad Group
Context
A leadership succession between founder Jamal Al-Saifi and fellow co-founder Ben Letor anchors the ownership transition under which IK Investment Partners entered exclusive discussions to acquire a majority stake in Innovad Group. Executed through the IK IX Fund, the buyout marks the retirement of the founder and outgoing CEO, while Ben Letor assumes the Chief Executive Officer role and reinvests substantially alongside the incumbent management team and the incoming private equity sponsor. The perimeter of the transaction encompasses the concurrent acquisition of Add-Co Nutrition, an Italian feed additives producer specialized in natural pigments and concentrates, which becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the Innovad Group. At the time of the agreement, Innovad employs over 80 people globally, including specialized veterinarians and nutritionists, and serves more than 200 customer accounts across 65 countries. Over the preceding decade, the company sustained double-digit annual revenue growth through organic expansion, targeted add-on acquisitions, and joint ventures. The investment thesis formulated by IK centers on expanding Innovad's positioning across premium intestinal health and mycotoxin stress control additives, scaling global commercial distribution, and executing further strategic add-on acquisitions within the fragmented animal nutrition sector. Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary legal and regulatory approvals.
Innovad Group, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2021, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, a level to compare with the average currently observed in the Healthcare & Pharma sector (14.8x).
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Target
Innovad Group is a globally operating supplier of specialty additives for animal feed, concentrating on poultry, ruminant and swine species. Its portfolio comprises high‑value solutions that support gut health, mycotoxin mitigation and immune function, with a pronounced emphasis on phytogenic and biomonitoring technologies. Headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, the company serves roughly 900 customers across 75 markets. Production capacity is vertically integrated through three owned facilities in Belgium, Brazil and Italy, complemented by toll‑manufacturing partnerships in Switzerland and Italy. Innovad’s R&D platform drives the development of novel nutraceutical ingredients and a proprietary mycotoxin biomonitoring tool. The firm pursues organic expansion, strategic acquisitions and continuous enhancement of its development platform to reinforce its position as a leading specialist in animal nutrition additives.
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Historical Financials (EUR)
Other operations with Innovad Group
| Date | Acquirer | Target | Country | Sector | Deal Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/2025 | PAI PARTNERS | Innovad Group | BELGIUM | Life Sciences | A control buyout transaction has been agreed by private equity firm PAI Partners to acquire Innovad Group from IK Partners, initiating the next strategic expansion cycle for the specialty animal feed additives business. The transaction provides a full monetization event for the seller's IK IX Fund, which held its equity position since 2021. In conjunction with the buyout, the incumbent leadership team headed by Chief Executive Officer Ben Letor is reinvesting alongside the incoming financial sponsor to ensure management continuity and execute the long-term roadmap |
| 04/2023 | Innovad Group | Herbonis | SWITZERLAND | Life Sciences | Strengthening its strategic focus on natural specialty feed ingredients, Belgium-based Innovad, backed by its financial sponsor IK Partners through the IK IX Fund, has completed the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Swiss company Herbonis along with its affiliates, including UK-based Wyreside. This targeted build-up transaction aligns with Innovad's investment thesis to expand into primary botanical ingredients and establish a global center of excellence in phytogenics and animal biomonitoring |
REFERENCES
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Authors: verified mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).
Press release: view release
Target: innovad group
Acquirer: ik partners