Medical device maker Stryker Corp. recently announced that it will buy Physio-Control, a manufacturer of emergency defibrillators and other emergency medical response products based in Redmond, Washington. According to Stryker’s press release, the deal is a $1.28 billion all-cash acquisition and is expected to close at the beginning of Q2 2016.
Physio-Control opened its doors in 1955. Since then, Physio-Control reports that it has become one of the Seattle area’s largest medical device manufacturers — it currently employs more than 1,400 people globally and posted $503 million in revenue in 2015. Stryker explains that the acquisition permits Stryker to expand its emergency medical services (EMS) business both domestically and abroad (specifically in Europe). Regarding the deal, Stryker Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Lobo states:
Physio-Control’s focused strategy and their culture will fit well within the EMS business of our medical division, further leveraging our existing call pattern. We look forward to welcoming the Physio-Control team to Stryker.
Stryker’s acquisition of Physio-Control follows on the heels of its recent agreement to purchase Sage Products LLC for $2.78 billion in cash and its recent agreement to purchase Synergetics USA, Inc.’s neuro portfolio in another all-cash transaction. Moreover, as reported by the Venture Capital Post, Stryker has said that more deals will be done by the company soon. Mr. Lobo has been quoted as saying that:
One of the reasons to postpone the share repurchase program was to make sure we still have the capacity, so this will not be the last deal that we do.