Healthcare services group United Drug has bought a specialist travel health group in the UK for £19 million (€27.4 million), bringing to five the number of UK acquisitions made by the group in just over a year.

The Dublin-based company yesterday announced the acquisition of Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad (Masta), a group that specialises in the sale and distribution of vaccines, medical information and clinical services.

Under the terms of the agreement, United Drug will pay £14.5 million in cash on completion of the deal, plus an additional consideration of as much as £4.5 million, dependent on the company achieving certain profit targets over the next two years.

Masta, which employs 60 people in Leeds, sells directly to the occupational health departments of large organisations and through Masta-branded travel clinics in the UK. It also provides travel and health advice online.

United Drug also said yesterday that it had bought a 25 per cent stake in Medicare Group, a Northern Irish healthcare and retail organisation, for an undisclosed sum. Medicare has been a customer of United Drug for 15 years and the company insisted the acquisition doesn't change its commercial relationship with the group.

Liam Fitzgerald, United Drug's chief executive, welcomed both acquisitions, saying they place the company in an excellent position for future growth.

"The acquisition of Masta and our new Northern Ireland investment is further evidence of our ability as a group to build on our existing expertise and broaden our offering of top quality services to our partners and customers in all the markets in which we operate," he said.