Becton Dickinson & Co. (NYSE:BDX) has secured anti trust approval in the European Union for its $24 billion acquisition of C.R. Bard (NYSE:BCR) after selling 2 subsidiaries to remove concerns over competition, according to a Reuters report.
Concessions included a pledge from BD to sell its global core needle biopsy device division and an in-development tissue marker device, according to the report.
Late last month, Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Becton Dickinson said it offered concessions to address certain EU antitrust concerns in its acquisition of Bard, according to the European Commission.
In early August, Bard shareholders overwhelmingly approved the $24 billion merger with BD. The $317-per-share deal, which was announced last April, is expected to close during the fourth quarter, the companies said.
Consummation of the deal is still waiting on anti-trust approvals, including by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. In June, the FTC asked for more information on the merger, adding 30 days to the timeline for closing the deal.