Dive Brief:
- Boehringer Ingelheim's current animal health unit Vetmedica is moving its headquarters from St. Joseph, MO. to Duluth, GA., now that the asset swap between Boehringer and Sanofi has been completed.
- Boehringer said in a statement this week that the St. Joseph site "will continue as a critical part of the integrated business and will operate as the largest animal health employer in the KC Animal Health Corridor."
- Combining the assets of the two companies is expected to be complete in January 2017, but is still awaiting approval of all regulatory authorities in different countries, including the Federal Trade Commission.
Dive Insight:
As part of an asset swap between Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim signed in June 2016, Boehringer recently sold off its cat, dog and rabies vaccine portfolio to Elanco, an Eli Lilly animal health subsidiary. This allowed it the go ahead to gain Sanofi's Merial animal health business, creating a beefed-up Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica.
"Following the close of this transaction, we will become the second largest animal health player in the world," said Albrecht Kissel, president and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica. "An Atlanta-area headquarters will allow us to stay more closely connected to our U.S. and international operations, teams and clients, fostering greater collaboration and interconnectedness around the globe."
According to a spokesperson from Boehringer, speaking with St. Joseph News-Press, it's not yet clear what the impact of job gains or losses would be for either site.
"Right now, we estimate up to 75 job opportunities will be created at the Duluth site," Melissa Chestnut said. "Those (positions) could be filled by anyone from anywhere. It is too early to tell how many employees this will impact here in St. Joseph."
Yet, Boehringer said in its announcement that the St. Joseph's employees would remain largely unaffected and that animal health management would move to Georgia.