Intervet became the third-largest supplier of veterinary vaccines in the United States when it recently purchased the North American Bayer Animal Health Biologicals Business.

Klaus Olbers, president of Intervet, Inc., said that Intervet intends to be a leading supplier for the U.S. animal health market. In 1999, the company acquired Hoechst Roussel Vet, another well-known animal biologicals business. Olbers added, “We have gained a solid base and a leading position in each of the major livestock vaccine segments in the U.S. We have also gained the commercial mass needed to establish a significant presence in the companion animal markets.”

As a part of the agreement, Intervet will acquire a production facility in Worthington, Minn., and a research facility in De Soto, Kan. A contract with Bayer will allow Intervet to lease the current biological facilities. A total of 150 employees will be gained in the United States as a result of the acquisition.

“Intervet addressed its need to establish itself as a leading global player in the animal health care market last year with the acquisition of the Hoechst Roussel Vet business,” said Olbers. “The acquisiton of Bayerâs North American Health Biologicals Business does the same for Intervet in the critically important U.S. market, where the company was still under-represented, relative to its global market position