07.31.13
Baxter International Inc. finally has satisfied European antitrust regulators, who were concerned that an effort to buy Gambro AB would leave Baxter too powerful in the European market. Baxter has agreed to divest its global continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) business unit so it can acquire the Lund, Sweden-based maker of hemodialysis equipment usually used in hospitals.
Deerfield, Ill.-based Baxter makes machines for peritoneal dialysis which can be done at home. The U.S. company also makes drug infusion pumps and blood therapy products.
Baxter’s CRRT business accounts for approximately 2 percent of its overall revenue. The company has submitted the same offer to regulators in Australia and New Zealand.
“The European Commission is expected to clear the deal based on the remedy,” an anonymous source told Reuters.
The European Union antitrust regulator was scheduled to decide on the $4 billion (U.S.) deal by July 22. “This investigation is still ongoing, one cannot prejudge its outcome,” said Antoine Colombani, the European Commission’s spokesman for competition policy.
Baxter has not released a statement regarding either the acquisition of Gambro or the divestiture.
Deerfield, Ill.-based Baxter makes machines for peritoneal dialysis which can be done at home. The U.S. company also makes drug infusion pumps and blood therapy products.
Baxter’s CRRT business accounts for approximately 2 percent of its overall revenue. The company has submitted the same offer to regulators in Australia and New Zealand.
“The European Commission is expected to clear the deal based on the remedy,” an anonymous source told Reuters.
The European Union antitrust regulator was scheduled to decide on the $4 billion (U.S.) deal by July 22. “This investigation is still ongoing, one cannot prejudge its outcome,” said Antoine Colombani, the European Commission’s spokesman for competition policy.
Baxter has not released a statement regarding either the acquisition of Gambro or the divestiture.