A Medical Device Daily

Abbott (Abbott Park, Illinois) reported that it has received merger control clearance from the European Commission for its acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics (AMO; Santa Ana, California) through a cash tender offer for the outstanding shares of common stock of AMO. The European Commission approved the deal without conditions.

Abbott reported last month that it had agreed to acquire AMO for $22 a share in cash, or about $2.8 billion, including debt (Medical Device Daily, Jan. 13, 2009).

Abbott said this satisfies the condition to the tender offer related to European Commission regulatory approval and is the last regulatory approval that is a condition to the tender offer. The tender offer is scheduled to expire at midnight EST today, unless it is extended. Consummation of the tender offer remains subject to other customary conditions, including the tender of a majority of the outstanding shares of AMO's common stock on a fully diluted basis, the company noted.

In other dealmaking news, Solis Women's Health (Austin, Texas) reported that it has acquired the Women's Imaging Center of Southeastern Radiology (SERA; Greensboro, North Carolina), a full-service diagnostic radiology center.

Solis said SERA becomes its second comprehensive breast center in the Greensboro market following the acquisition last year of the Bertrand Breast Center.

Solis will implement full-field digital mammography and continue to offer breast ultrasound, bone densitometry, and general ultrasound at SERA. In addition, Solis and SERA plan to provide breast MRI services.

Solis is a specialized healthcare provider focused exclusively on the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer.