Exclusive: Carlyle in the lead to acquire J&J diagnostics unit
Reuters, Monday, December 23, 2013
Private equity firm Carlyle Group LP is in the lead to acquire Johnson & Johnson's Ortho clinical diagnostics unit, three people familiar with the matter said on Monday, in a deal expected to be around $4 billion.
Johnson & Johnson currently sees Carlyle's offer as superior to a rival bid from Blackstone Group LP in partnership with healthcare and industrial conglomerate Danaher Corp, the people said, cautioning that negotiations were ongoing and the outcome could still change.
The exact price of Carlyle's offer could not be learned. The people asked not to be identified because details of the sale process are confidential. Carlyle, Johnson & Johnson and Blackstone declined to comment while a Danaher representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
↧