EU Approves GE’s Bid for Instrumentarium

General Electric Co., the world’s largest seller of medical-imaging machines, won European approval for its $2.3-billion bid for hospital-equipment maker Instrumentarium after agreeing to sell a unit to allay antitrust concerns that the takeover would boost prices.

General Electric will divest the Spacelabs patient-monitoring unit of Helsinki, Finland-based Instrumentarium, the world’s largest maker of anesthesia systems, the European Commission said. The company also agreed to enter supply agreements with Spacelabs’ purchaser that include offering Instrumentarium’s gas-monitoring equipment.

Fairfield, Conn.-based GE said it has been in talks with U.S. regulators and expects to close the deal this quarter.

GE shares rose 87 cents to $30.44 on the NYSE.

From Bloomberg News