J&J Wins EU Approval for $21.3 Billion Synthes Acquisition

Johnson & Johnson won European Union approval for its $21.3 billion purchase of Synthes Inc. after agreeing to sell its DePuy Orthopaedics Trauma business to allay antitrust concerns.

J&J’s offer to dispose of operations making devices that treat bone fractures eliminated antitrust concerns over “very high combined market shares” for the products, the European Commission said in an e-mailed statement today.