The new merger guidelines released by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have proven controversial on several fronts, but now the House of Representatives is weighing in. Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) said the guidelines fail to account for the importance of these transactions for small businesses seeking to grow and requested that the two agencies provide data that would demonstrate whether such concerns were considered in drafting those rules.

As Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) first-quarter revenue missed Wall Street estimates for medical devices on April 16, CEO Joaquin Duato noted that the company will continue to look for major M&A plays to boost long-term growth in the wake of its recently reported $13.1 billion buy of Shockwave Medical Inc.

Med-tech powerhouse Johnson & Johnson made a bold bid to bolster its interventional cardiology holdings with the news on April 5 that it is acquiring Shockwave Medical Inc. for approximately $13.1 billion including cash acquired. The $335 per share cash price represents a more than 5% premium to Shockwave’s (Nasdaq: SWAV) April 4 closing price.

Asensus Surgical Inc. grabbed a $10 million lifeline from prospective suitor Karl Storz SE & Co. KG, which has offered to buy the cash-strapped company for 35 cents per share or about $96 million. Asensus signed a non-binding letter of intent to consider and negotiate terms after “an extensive period of consideration of various strategic alternatives.” Under certain circumstances, it could access a further $10 million from Storz prior to a merger. Asensus reported in March that its cash runway would tap out in early July.

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings Inc. agreed to purchase select assets of Bioreference Health from Opko Health Inc. for $237.5 million in a deal slated to close in the second half of 2024. The transaction could be the start of a buying spree for the country’s second-largest independent laboratory testing service provider, as Labcorp management has laid out an acquisition strategy that focuses on higher-growth areas, particularly reproductive and women’s health.

Less than two years after acquiring Sound United for $1.025 billion, Masimo Corp. plans to hive off the consumer audio subsidiary along with consumer health products such as its Stork baby monitor and Freedom smart watch and band. The “rushed” announcement made Friday “came after being informed that Politan intended to nominate directors this week,” said activist investor Politan Capital Management. Politan, which owns 8.9% of the company, secured two board seats in a highly contentious proxy battle last year and nominated two more on Monday morning.

Johnson Matthey plc agreed to sell its medical device components business to Montagu Private Equity for £550 million ($700 million) on a cash-free, debt-free basis. For Montagu, the deal is part of its expanding health care portfolio. Earlier in 2024 the private equity firm, which is the primary shareholder in RTI Surgical Inc., acquired Cook Biotech Inc. from Cook Medical Inc. and merged the two companies.

An advocate general (AG) for the E.U. Court of Justice did not mince words in calling out the European Commission for its “very significant extension of the scope of the Merger Regulation and of the commission’s jurisdiction” in reviewing Illumina Inc.’s $7.1 billion acquisition of Grail LLC.

Validating Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s radiopharmaceutical technology and manufacturing capabilities, Astrazeneca plc offered to buy the firm for $2 billion up front in cash, plus a contingent value right that could raise the total deal value by another $400 million.