Marriottsville, MD-based Bon Secours Health System and Cincinnati-based Mercy Health announced merger plans Wednesday that will create the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the United States. When complete, the combined entity will operate more than 50 senior living and post-acute care sites — including assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities and home health and hospice agencies — across seven states.

“The mission, vision, values and geographic service areas of Bon Secours and Mercy Health are remarkably well-aligned and highly complementary,” Bon Secours Health System President and CEO Richard J. Statuto said in a statement. “This merger strengthens our shared commitment to improve population health, eliminate health disparities, build strength to address social determinants of health and invest heavily in innovating our approaches to healthcare.”

The joined companies will have $8 billion in net operating revenue, $293 million in operating income, more than 57,000 employees and more than 2,100 employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians.

The parties said they expect to finalize their merger agreement by the end of the year.

Mercy Health currently has more than 33,500 employees serving communities throughout Ohio and in Kentucky and includes assets of $6.8 billion and nearly 500 care facilities, including 23 hospitals and 26 post-acute care facilities, including senior living communities, hospice programs and home health agencies.

Bon Secours Health System currently operates in Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and New York. The system has more than 24,000 employees and owns, manages or has joint ventures involving 20 hospitals and 27 post-acute care facilities or agencies, including assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, and home care and hospice services. Bon Secours also has developed more than 800 affordable housing units for low-income families.