HEALTH

Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Cordis: Cordis Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $1.8 billion in stock, the companies said, ending a month-long hostile battle for control of the cardiology equipment maker. The deal, which Miami-based Cordis agreed to in principle last week, calls for Johnson & Johnson, based in New Brunswick, N.J., to offer $109 worth of its stock for each of Cordis’ 17.6 million shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis. Johnson & Johnson’s stock rose $2 to $81.75 on the New York Stock Exchange. Cordis edged down $1 to $104.4375 on Nasdaq. The companies said they expect to file a proxy statement and prospectus soon and to hold a meeting of Cordis shareholders to approve the merger and to register the Johnson & Johnson common stock to be issued in the merger.