BBC Dragons' Den star sells business empire in eye-watering billion-pound deal five years after BBC exit

Tej Lalvani, the entrepreneur who became a household name during his stint on BBC's Dragons' Den, has agreed to sell his family's vitamin empire Vitabiotics to private equity giant Bain Capital in a deal worth over £1 billion.

Mr Lelvani, who occupied one of the famous chairs on the hit investment show from 2017 to 2021, described the transaction as a "defining moment" for the business in a statement posted on LinkedIn.

The sale represents a remarkable milestone for the company, which holds the distinction of being the UK's leading vitamin brand by sales.

It also marks a significant payday for Mr Lalvani, five years after he departed the BBC programme.

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The agreement still requires regulatory clearance before it can be finalised.

Vitabiotics was established in 1971 by Dr Kartar Lalvani, Mr Lalvani's father, whose ambition was to combine scientific research with nutrition to enhance public health.

Mr Lalvani entered the family firm after completing his university education.

He has pushed back against any suggestion that family connections gave him an unfair advantage.

By his own account, his career at Vitabiotics began with manual tasks such as affixing labels to boxes in the company warehouse.

His father, he has said, held him to a higher standard than other staff members.

After more than two decades working his way through the business, Mr Lalvani was appointed chief executive in 2015.

Under his leadership, the brand expanded its reach into international markets, cementing its position as Britain's largest vitamin company by sales.

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Mr Lalvani joined the Dragons' Den panel in 2017, bringing his expertise in consumer health to the programme.

He stepped away from the show in 2021, citing a desire to dedicate more time to nurturing his growing portfolio of investments.

During his tenure in the Den, he backed several notable ventures.

These included Thortful, an online platform connecting consumers with independent greeting card creators, and War Paint For Men, a cosmetics brand designed specifically for male customers.

Perhaps his most lucrative deal on the programme, however, was a £130,000 joint investment alongside fellow Dragon Jenny Campbell in Look After My Bills.

The automatic energy-switching service went on to be acquired by the group behind GoCompare in 2019 for a reported £8.5 million.

Announcing the deal on LinkedIn, Mr Lalvani paid tribute to the origins of the business.

"When my father founded Vitabiotics in 1971, his vision was simple but powerful: to harness the power of science and nutrition to improve people's health."

He continued: "That belief became the foundation of everything we have built."

He also acknowledged the contribution of his colleagues over the decades.

"I have had the privilege of spending more than 30 years building on my father's vision, alongside an exceptional team who have made Vitabiotics what it is today," he added.

The transaction between Vitabiotics and Bain Capital remains subject to regulatory approval.

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