Potential Walgreens merger with drug distributor makes shares price soar

Charisse Jones | USA TODAY

AmerisourceBergen shares surged Tuesday in the wake of a report that the pharmaceutical distributor might be purchased by drug store giant Walgreens.

More: Walgreens close to completing purchase of 1,900+ Rite Aid stores

More: Walgreens to shutter 600 stores as part of Rite Aid deal

Shares were up 13.48% to $101.50 in premarket trading, following a Wall Street Journal story that Walgreens Boots Alliance was looking to ramp up its current stake in Amerisource Bergen to full ownership.

Profit plunges 22 percent at Walgreens The drugstore chain's quarterly profit fell, but it raised the lower end of its profit forecast. Fred Katayama reports. Video provided by Reuters

The report, citing people familiar with the potential deal, said representatives of Walgreens Chief Executive Stefano Pessina had made overtures to representatives of Steven Collis, Amerisource's CEO to fully take over the drug distribution company. However, at the moment, the tie-up is just talk and may not lead to a deal, the Journal said.

Soon you can get your FedEx package at Walgreens The shipping giant has lined up 8,000 drugstores.

AmerisourceBergen said that it's policy is "not to discuss any rumors or speculation regarding potential mergers or acquisitions.'' Walgreens also said that it had no comment.