Congratulations to Heidi Ganahl and the team at Camp Bow Wow on the announced sale to VCA.

VCA to Acquire Camp Bow Wow Chain

Camp Bow Wow founder and Chief Executive Heidi Ganahl shelved plans for a day-care business for dogs after her husband died in a plane crash 20 years ago.

Now, after leaving a career in pharmaceutical sales, creating two startups that sputtered and spending most of a million-dollar insurance settlement, Ms. Ganahl has reminted herself a millionaire. She has agreed to sell Camp Bow Wow to VCA Inc. and join the Los Angeles pet health-care company to plot Camp Bow Wow's expansion.

VCA, which has a stock market value of $3.3 billion, operates more than 600 animal hospitals and provides diagnostic services to others. Terms of the transaction weren't disclosed. Franchisers such as Camp Bow Wow often are bought for single-digit multiples of the yearly fees they receive from franchisees. Camp Bow Wow collected about $4 million in such fees last year.

As part of the deal, Ms. Ganahl plans to hire a president to run Camp Bow Wow's day-to-day operations, while she, as chief executive, focuses on strategy. Camp Bow Wow's core business offers day care for dogs at franchise-owned facilities, starting at about $25 a day, as well as overnight boarding for between $40 and $60 a night.

Full article
http://online.wsj.com/articles/vca-to-acquire-camp-bow-wow-chain-1407175570