It was the year of the megamerger. In an effort to better compete in the new healthcare landscape, several major players sought to gain scale, complement their product portfolios, and extend their reach into the hospital.
In a $42.9-billion deal that rocked the industry, tax inversion and the resulting access to overseas cash became the focal point of Medtronic’s intent to acquire Covidien. But the synergies between the two companies and long-term business strategy proved to be a primary driver.
Prior to Medtronic’s big news, Zimmer set off the wave of megamergers when it announced plans to acquire cross-town rival Biomet for $13.35 billion. The deal is expected to secure the orthopedic giant’s stronghold in the large joint market and better position itself to compete with DePuy.
Rounding out the trifecta was Becton Dickinson’s October announcement of a plan to buy CareFusion for $12.2 billion. The companies cited complementary product offerings and increasing hospital pressures as motivators for the union.
