Hill-Rom Buys Up German Operating Room Equip Manufacturer

By Mike Perleberg (Batesville, Ind.) – Hill-Rom is paying $250 million cash to acquire a German company that compliments its hospital equipment manufacturing business well. Hill-Rom Holdings announced the deal Monday. The Batesville-based company has signed a definitive agreement to purchase TRUMPF Medical and double Hill-Rom’s surgical portfolio. According to a press release, TRUMPF provides a portfolio of well-established operating room infrastructure products such as surgical tables, surgical lighting, and supply units.  Hill-Rom's surgical portfolio already includes leading products for surgical safety and efficiency such as Bard-Parker scalpels, the Allen Advance Spine Table, patient positioning accessories, surgical supplies and surgical fluids management systems. "The acquisition of TRUMPF Medical reflects our focused and disciplined strategy to pursue acquisitions that capitalize on Hill-Rom's brand equity in targeted areas, diversify our portfolio and meet our objectives for growth and value creation," said John J. Greisch, President and CEO of Hill-Rom. "The TRUMPF Medical business expands our portfolio beyond patient handling and mobility with innovative solutions for the operating room and diversifies our revenue stream with a sizable international surgical platform that will allow us to capitalize on emerging market growth.  As a result, we will be able to leverage our existing sales channels and customer relationships in order to better address their needs.  We look forward to playing an even greater role in improving patient care achieving greater levels of efficiency and reducing healthcare costs." The transaction, still subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory  approval, is expected to close last in Hill-Rom’s fiscal fourth quarter.