UPDATE: Local Supplier Acquired by Hill-Rom

By Katlyn Reece Update posted Friday, April 4 at 12:54 p.m.: Hill-Rom's acquisition of a nearby supplier located in Batesville won't change the job status of the supplier's employees, at least not anytime soon. On Tuesday, Hill-Rom, based in Batesville, officially acquired Virtus, a manufacturer of mattresses for many of Hill-Rom's products including hospital beds, intensive care beds, birthing beds, stretchers, and more. Valerie Finarty, Hill-Rom's Vice President of Supply Chain Operations, said the acquisition is strategic to Hill-Rom's portfolio. "They touch almost ever bed we make for North America," Finarty said. "Virtus' team are experts at what they do. It's a great move for Hill-Rom." Leadership teams with the two companies are working together on an integration plan, she said. Perhaps a good sign for the employees who now work for Hill-Rom is the new owner's plan for the Virtus facility. Finarty said Hill-Rom has no plans to do anything with the paid-for facility other than what it is doing today.   Original story published Thursday, April 3 at 3:09 p.m.: (Batesville, Ind.) - Hill-Rom is purchasing Batesville parts supplier Vertus after a 21 year partnership with the company.  Virtus is a manufacturer and supplier of healthcare products such as hospital bed mattresses. International healthcare equipment manufacturer Hill-Rom, also based in Batesville, has been one of Virtus' biggest clients. Larry Baumann, Executive Director of Global Communications for Hill-Rom, tells Eagle 99.3 that Hill-Rom acquired Virtus on Tuesday, April 1 and plans to integrate Virtus into the business. Virtus has a staff of about 100 employees. Baumann said he would not discuss specific plans regarding the employees. He also could not speculate on whether Hill-Rom may be looking to make similar acquisitions in the future.