Healthcare giant Baxter (NYSE:BAX) may be on the verge of closing its $4 billion buyout of Swedish dialysis devices maker Gambro AB after offering to divest some of its assets in order to appease European regulators, according to anonymous sources cited by Reuters.
"People familiar with the matter" told the news wire that negotiations with EU regulators are moving forward and that Baxter offered to sell off its global continuous renal replacement therapy business in order to stem anti-trust concerns.
A Baxter representative contacted by MassDevice.com declined to comment on the rumors, saying that the device maker plans to release the details of the high-stakes merger during its 3rd quarter. The merger would make Baxter the 2nd-biggest player in the dialysis market, according to Reuters.
European Commission anti-trust regulators later this month will make an official announcement on the negotiations surrounding the pending merger. The agency delayed its decision deadline last week in order to extend negotiations.
The company recently won a green light from the Ukraine to go ahead with the acquisition. Baxter already has approval from Brazil, Canada, South Korea, Turkey and the U.S., but is still waiting to hear back from China, Australia and the EU.
