Medtronic to Acquire China Kanghui Holdings

Medtronic

and China Kanghui Holdings

announced today that they have entered into a merger agreement whereby Medtronic will acquire Kanghui.  The agreement calls for Medtronic to pay approximately $816 million in cash ($30.75 per American depository share).  The total value of the transaction, net of Kanghui's cash, is expected to be approximately $755 million. "China is one of the fastest growing medical device markets with significant scale opportunities, and now Medtronic will establish a bigger and more direct local presence," said Chris O'Connell, executive vice president and president of Medtronic's Restorative Therapies Group, including the Neuromodulation, Spine, Surgical Technologies and Diabetes businesses.  "Kanghui brings Medtronic a broad product portfolio, a strong local R&D and manufacturing operation, a vast China distribution network and an exceptional management team.  This move will provide Medtronic sustainable advantages in the fast-growing Chinese orthopedic segment, as well as a foothold in the emerging global value segment in orthopedics." "This agreement is directly aligned with our corporate strategies of globalization and economic value," said Omar Ishrak, chairman and CEO of