Danaher takes over Beckman Coulter in deal worth $6.8bn

In its latest deal that adds more instrumentation offerings, Danaher Corp. (testing and analytical systems, dental technologies, and diagnostics) is acquiring public biomedical testing company Beckman Coulter Inc. for $83.50 per share (a 47% premium to the ten-day average prior to December 9, 2010, when the takeover was rumored). Including Beckman’s 70.9mm shares outstanding, plus the assumption of debt and net cash, the transaction is valued at $6.8bn.