Schering-Plough Animal Health and Intervet will continue to operate at their existing locations with the headquarters in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, the present home of Intervet.

The combination of Intervet, the world's third largest veterinary company and Schering-Plough Animal Health, the fifth, will create the world's largest veterinary company, says Akzo Nobel's media officer Tim van der Zanden.

Independently the two businesses are already strong, the bad news for any scrutinising opposition is that their assets will only complement each other, making them yet stronger still. Van De Zarden made clear his vision of the future. "We are not talking about a slicing and cutting deal. What we are looking for is growth. This way, Schering Plough can become bigger in Europe and Intervet can grow further in the US.". Intervet turned over sales worth an estimated $1.5 billion in 2006.

Intervet's products include Nobivac, a range of canine vaccines; Panacur, a de-wormer; Bovilis, a range of bovine biologicals for disease control and eradication of cattle; and Nobilis, a range of poultry vaccines for poultry; and Porcilis, their range of vaccines for pigs.

Schering-Plough Animal Health has a strong business in treatments for pigs, cattle, aquaculture and companion animals, including products such as NUFLOR, an antibiotic for cattle, swine and fish; BANAMINE, an anti- inflammatory for cattle, horses and swine; and OTOMAX, a canine otic ointment.

Though further details on the acquisition are yet to be announced, the initial press release came out of the blue for all those involved and seems set to send shockwaves across the entire pharmaceutical world. The transaction is expected to be made permanent as soon as consultations with social partners are made and got the go ahead from the regulatory bodies. Some parties are already predicting that the process could be completed in the second half of the year, even as early as July