RMB Ventures facilitated the exit of Marltons Pet Care (Pty) Ltd through its sale to Montego Pet Nutrition – concluding a seven-year investment partnership with Bachique International.

The challenge

Marltons is a long-established South African pet care business with an 80-year operating history and a strong position across complementary pet care categories. RMB Ventures had invested in Bachique International in 2019 as part of a corporate de-listing, with Marltons forming one of the group’s key operating businesses.

Following a period of strategic transformation, the next phase of Marltons’ growth required a long-term owner with sector expertise, scale and alignment with the business’s values and operating philosophy. The exit needed to balance value realisation for shareholders with continuity for the business and its management team.

RMB’s solution

RMB Ventures, as a shareholder and board representative, worked closely with management throughout Marltons’ strategic development and exit planning. The team sourced Montego Pet Nutrition as a strategic acquirer and facilitated introductions between the parties, identifying a strong industrial and cultural fit.

Montego’s core nutrition platform and growth ambitions aligned with Marltons’ specialist pet care capabilities, creating a compelling rationale for the combination. RMB Ventures supported the transaction through to completion, ensuring a smooth transition to a long-term owner positioned to support the business’s next stage of growth.

Results and benefits

The transaction delivered a successful exit for Bachique International after seven years of partnership, while securing a strong strategic home for Marltons under the ownership of Montego Pet Nutrition.

The deal highlights RMB Ventures’ ability to partner with management teams over the long term, support portfolio companies through strategic transformation, and execute exits by matching businesses with the right strategic owners. It also reinforces RMB Ventures’ experience in the food and agri sector and its track record in private equity-led transactions in South Africa.