GE Makes a Health Care Acquisition (GE, VITL)

247wallst — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:02:56 +0000

Vital Signs Inc. (NASDAQ: VITL) is going to gap way up this morning. The company is being acquired by General Electric Co. for $860 million in cash, which comes to $74.50 per share.

Vital Signs will become part of GE Healthcare’s Clinical Systems business. GE is essentially buying a portfolio to expand medical operations in monitoring, anesthesia, sleep therapy, and respiratory care.

If you review our exclusive interview with CFO Keith Sherin, he outlined the hurdles and benchmarks for the company to do a deal and he also noted that medical did have the "green light" to do a deal in the sector. This is one that flew under our radar and the radar of others who were trying to peg which company GE would acquire.

Jon C. Ogg
July 24, 2008

24/7 Wall St. » VITL

GE Makes a Health Care Acquisition (GE, VITL)