IBM closes $1B Merge Healthcare buyout

October 13, 2015 By Fink Densford Leave a Comment

International Business Machine (NYSE:IBM) said it finished its $1 billion purchase of medical image and clinical systems company Merge Healthcare.

Merge shareholders are slated to receive $7.13 per share in cash as the transaction closes, the Armonk, N.Y.-based company said.

IBM said it will combine the newly purchased assets, including data and images from Merge Healthcare’s medical imaging management platform with its Watson Health analytics unit.

Cloud-based Watson computing system analyzes high volumes of data, understands complex questions posed in natural language and proposes evidence-based answers.

The deal is IBM’s 3rd major health-related buy since launching its Watson Health unit in April.

The transaction was 1st announced in August.

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