Vet health giants are set to merge
Vet health giants are set to merge
TWO of the worlds largest animal health companies – Rhone Merieux and MSD AgVet – are planning to form a new joint company, Merial Animal Health.
Rhone Merieux is a subidiary of French-based Rhone-Poulenc and is a world leader in animal vaccines. MSD AgVet is part of US-based Merck & Co and is especially strong in parasiticides, including the worlds largest-selling animal health compound, ivermectin.
Combined turnover for the two companies is put at over £1bn, including £180m worth of poultry genetics. The joint venture is expected to be operational in the spring, following reports by the European, US and French competition authorities. Merck is also divesting its crop protection business, with sales of £120m.