AmerisourceBergen has agreed to purchase World Courier Group, a privately held global specialty transportation and logistics provider for the biopharmaceutical industry, for $520 million in cash.

Stamford, Conn.-based World Courier, which provides transportation, storage and distribution services for multinational biopharmaceutical clinical trials in addition to other end markets, will become a new operating segment within AmerisourceBergen.

“The acquisition of World Courier adds a new premium specialty service to our existing portfolio of market-leading pharmaceutical manufacturer services,” said Steven H. Collis, AmerisourceBergen president and CEO.

World Courier’s president, Wayne B. Heyland, will continue in his position, reporting directly to Collis. “We are very pleased to bring our decades of experience serving international biopharmaceutical manufacturers and CROs to AmerisourceBergen,” said Heyland.

AmerisourceBergen services healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers, providing drug distribution and related services to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes. Its services range from pharmacy automation and pharmaceutical packaging to reimbursement and pharmaceutical consulting services. Headquartered in Valley Forge, Penn., it has $80 billion in annual revenue and approximately 11,000 employees.

World Courier’s annual revenues are expected to be approximately $500 million in calendar year 2012. It has over 137 offices, 13 GMP-compliant storage depots and 2,500 employees in 52 countries.