In a move that could further disrupt the healthcare industry, Walgreens Boots Alliance is in talks to acquire drug distributor AmerisourceBergen Corp. in a deal valued at nearly $20B, according to reports.
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The move could provide a boost to Walgreens’ bottom line and help the retailer compete in the increasingly competitive healthcare landscape.
AmerisourceBergen, based in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, is among the largest distributors of pharmaceutical drugs in the country and boasts a large roster of retail clients. The company also oversees patient-service centers through its Lash Group business on behalf of pharmaceutical companies, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Walgreens is the largest buyer of pharmaceutical drugs with a portfolio of 13,000-plus stores across the globe and a valuation of $68B.
Walgreens already owns 26% of Amerisource shares, which are valued at $19.6B. Should the deal go through, Walgreens would acquire the remainder of the company’s stock, WSJ reports.
The takeover bid comes on the heels of CVS Health’s acquisition of insurer Aetna, which was announced in October. Analysts predict that $69B merger, which could create the second-largest U.S. company in terms of revenue once finalized, will allow CVS to leverage its retail footprint to create one-stop-shop healthcare clinics across the U.S.
Walgreens-AmerisourceBergen talks are still ongoing, and an official offer has yet to be made.
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