MWI Animal Health acquired UK Veterinary health buying group

Benton Alexander Smith//March 2, 2016//

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Jim Cleary, president of MWI Animal Health, speaks after receiving an award as one of IBR's CEOs of Influence for 2013. IBR file photo — Jim Cleary, president of MWI Animal Health, speaks after receiving an award as one of IBR’s CEOs of Influence for 2013. IBR file photo

MWI Animal Health is continuing its quest to grow in foreign markets with the acquisition of St. Francis Group, an animal health buying group located in the United Kingdom.

MWI was acquired by the large pharmaceutical company AmerisourceBergen in February 2015 in a deal that MWI hopes will leave it better positioned to enter new markets, said MWI Animal Health President Jim Cleary.

The company is especially interested in distributing its products in new countries. AmerisourceBergen distributes to 52 countries.

MWI Animal Health is based in Idaho, but sells animal health products to distributors and veterinarians across the United States and the United Kingdom. St. Francis Group has 460 members across the United Kingdom and North Ireland. The acquisition, announced Feb. 26, will help MWI to expand its market there, Cleary said.

The acquisition is the company’s third in the United Kingdom. MWI Animal Health acquired the veterinary support service provider Vetswest Limited in August 2015, and the veterinary product wholesaler and distributor Centaur Services in 2010.

The deal to acquire St. Francis Group was completed in December.

MWI hasn’t yet broken into a new market, but Cleary said the company is working to adopt AmerisourceBergen’s warehouse management IT system to make its logistics and distribution system stronger in anticipation of entering new countries.

St. Francis’ employees will be kept on and the company will continue to have the freedom to negotiate with manufacturers and to purchase products from preferred wholesale partners.