MWI Animal Health Acquires United Kingdom’s Largest Veterinary GPO, St. Francis Group

BOISE, Idaho. – Today, MWI Animal Health, a part of AmerisourceBergen, announced the acquisition of St. Francis Group, the United Kingdom’s largest animal health buying group. The acquisition of St. Francis Group showcases the continued expansion of AmerisourceBergen and MWI’s global footprint in the animal health space, while also positioning MWI to better support the viability of independent veterinary practices internationally.

St. Francis Group, which represents more than 460 member practices throughout the UK and Northern Ireland, has steadily grown its member base and service offerings. The company saves its members time and money on veterinary products by providing valuable information, technology and support that simplifies their processes, maximizes purchasing benefits and reduces administration so members can focus on clinical care.

“At MWI, we’re focused on providing independent veterinary practices with the tools and resources they need to thrive in a competitive animal health marketplace,” said James F. Cleary, Jr., Executive Vice President and President, MWI Animal Health. “St. Francis Group is dedicated to this same mission and we believe that adding the resources of AmerisourceBergen to their existing expertise and tools will further strengthen the impact they’re able to create for their members.”
“We’re proud of the work we’ve done to encourage the health and viability of our member practices,” said Alan White, Managing Director, St. Francis Group. “We look forward to working with MWI and AmerisourceBergen to further expand our capabilities with the goal of providing even greater value to current and future members of St. Francis Group.”

AmerisourceBergen completed its acquisition of MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. in February of 2015, signaling the company’s expansion into the growing area of animal health. MWI completed the acquisition of Vetswest Limited, a leading veterinary support services provider in the UK in August of 2015.
Through the acquisition, St. Francis Group will continue to negotiate with manufacturers based their ability to best meet member needs and purchase products from preferred wholesaler partners.

To learn more about MWI Animal Health, visit www.mwianimalhealth.com.

About AmerisourceBergen
AmerisourceBergen is one of the largest global pharmaceutical sourcing and distribution services companies, helping both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers improve patient access to products and enhance patient care. With services ranging from drug distribution and niche premium logistics to reimbursement and pharmaceutical consulting services, AmerisourceBergen delivers innovative programs and solutions across the pharmaceutical supply channel in human and animal health. With over $135 billion in annual revenue, AmerisourceBergen is headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, and employs approximately 18,000 people. AmerisourceBergen is ranked #16 on the Fortune 500 list. For more information, go to www.amerisourcebergen.com.