Walgreens Boots Alliance is spending nearly $1.2 billion to own a 15 percent stake in AmerisourceBergen, a pharmaceutical wholesaler that supplies its drugstores, mail order and specialty pharmaceutical businesses, reports Crain's Chicago Business.
Through the transaction, Walgreens will hold 22.7 million shares in the drug supplier, with warrants to purchase an additional 22.7 million. Walgreens and AmerisourceBergan signed a 10-year supply agreement in 2013.
Walgreens will also increase the number of its drugstores this year through its $9 billion purchase of rival drugstore chain Rite Aide. The transaction is expected to close later this year.