BOC Group, a giant British medical firm,...

BOC Group, a giant British medical firm, said it has gained control of 98.1% of the stock of Spectramed--enough to consummate its proposed $100-million acquisition of the Newport Beach manufacturer of medical equipment. The purchase is expected to be completed within the week. According to documents the BOC Group has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the firm has obtained 5.7 million of Spectramed’s 8.3 million shares of common stock. Also, BOC has obtained an option to buy 2.4 million additional common shares. Spectramed is incorporated in Delaware, where state law allows an investor who holds more than 90% of the outstanding shares to have a merger without a meeting or a vote of shareholders. Charles French, Spectramed’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said that although the BOC Group’s original $12-per-share tender offer expired Thursday, the company intends to buy the rest of Spectramed’s stock at the same price.