AmerisourceBergen of Valley Forge has a definitive merger agreement to acquire MWI Veterinary Supply of Boise, Id., the leading U.S. animal health distribution company.

“MWI is the premier supply chain company in animal health, with leading positions in both the companion and production markets, and we are very excited to have them join AmerisourceBergen,” said Steven H. Collis, AmerisourceBergen president and CEO. “Animal health is a growing market in the US and internationally, and is a logical extension of our pharmaceutical distribution and services businesses.”

Collis and Jim Cleary, MWI’s president and CEO, said the firms plan to collaboratively launch the next generation of superior animal health products and services.

AmerisourceBergen plans to finance the transaction through a combination of cash and long-term debt.

The acquisition is expected to contribute approximately 8 cents in adjusted earnings per share to AmerisourceBergen’s fiscal year 2015, and to generate approximately $50 million in synergies by the end of the third full year, driven primarily by the benefits of AmerisourceBergen’s scale and product sourcing opportunities. MWI’s board of directors unanimously approved the transaction.