Supplier buys medication management firm for $12.2B

The medical technology company Becton, Dickinson & Co. (BD) will pay $12.2 billion to acquire CareFusion, a move that is expected to broaden the range of products offered to hospitals and software used for medication management.

In a presentation for shareholders, BD projected the acquisition will create $12 billion in annualized revenues and expand the company’s presence worldwide. BD makes and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products, while CareFusion provides medication management tools, software and informatics.

The acquisition will allow the companies to integrate their technologies, which they claimed will facilitate efforts to improve patient and worker safety, increase efficiencies and lower healthcare costs.

The cash and stock transaction is scheduled to close in the first half of 2015. At its completion, BD will have a combined global work force of 46,000 employees. CareFusion will become part of the medical segment of BD.

CareFusion will maintain its presence in San Diego, where it is headquartered, according to a release. BD is based in Franklin Lakes, N.J.