St. Jude Medical Inc. plans to be the first of the big cardiovascular device companies to sell ventricular assist devices after agreeing to buy leading VAD-maker Thoratec Corp. But there is a possibility that another rival could swoop in to take its place.
The companies announced a definitive agreement on July 22 for St. Jude to acquire Thoratec for about $3.4 billion in cash, net of cash acquired, or $63.50 per share, a premium of 40