Becton Dickinson Wraps Up CareFusion Merger

Becton, Dickinson and Company has completed its $12.2 billion acquisition of CareFusion, the company said Tuesday. Under the merger, CareFusion will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based BD.

The deal marks BD’s transition from a product-oriented company to a healthcare solutions provider with a focus on medication management and patient safety. The combined entity will offer integrated medication management products and smart devices for pharmacy drug preparation, hospital dispensing, and patient administration and monitoring, the devicemaker said.

The acquisition ensures that BD will have a leading global presence in medical technology, says BD’s Chairman, CEO and President Vincent Forlenza.  He adds that the new combined company will be better positioned to forge new healthcare alliances. The merger is also expected to increase sales of CareFusion products in emerging markets, which currently account for 25 percent of BD sales but only 5 percent of CareFusion’s. — Jason Scott