Global veterinary pharmaceutical and animal health specialist Bimeda has announced its latest significant investment, via the acquisition of South Africa's leading animal health distributor, Afrivet Southern Africa Proprietary Limited.

Afrivet, based in Pretoria, boasted 2021 revenues of over 25 million euro. The company also has operating divisions in Zambia and Mozambique, which are included in the acquisition. The acquisition will provide Bimeda with the largest footprint of any animal health company on the African continent.

Bimeda has a long-established presence in Africa, with Bimeda products sold on the continent for four decades. Afrivet will become part of Bimeda's AMEA division, which is headquartered in Kenya, and has subsidiaries in Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.

The acquisition is the latest activity under Bimeda's ongoing expansion programme, which has seen the company both increase its geographic footprint and enter new industry sectors in recent years. In the past five years alone, Bimeda has entered into the aquaculture and vaccine sectors via acquisitions in the USA, set up a greenfield organisation in Denmark, constructed and commissioned a sterile injectable facility in China, and established a global innovation centre in Ireland.

Founded in 2000 by Dr Peter Oberem, whose vision was to create an animal health company which would provide for the unique needs of southern African farmers and animal owners, Afrivet has become one of the leading players in the market. Managing Director Dr Oberem noted:

"Independent surveys show that Afrivet is highly respected as a leading animal health brand in the region. This acquisition will greatly strengthen the company's product and service offering, to the benefit of all stock and pet owners. I have known Bimeda for more than 32 years and I have always admired how similar their and our business philosophies are. I am truly excited about the future of our company."

Commenting on the acquisition, Bimeda's AMEA CEO, Ronan Smith, said, "we have long admired the Afrivet business, which offers both an extensive product portfolio and technical service offerings. After a long-established presence as the largest animal health company in East Africa, the acquisition will result in Bimeda having the largest footprint of any animal health company on the entire continent.'

Bimeda products are currently distributed in over eighty countries globally with the group operating eleven manufacturing facilities, across eight countries, nine Research & Development centres and three diagnostic laboratories.