Bracco finalizes $241M purchase of E-Z-EM

E-Z-EM imaging product line now sold through Bracco. Source: E-Z-EM

The Bracco Group has finalized the acquisition of E-Z-EM, a manufacturer of contrast media and medical devices for gastrointestinal radiology, in a transaction valued at more than $241 million.

E-Z-EM said that its abdominal contrast agent business, along with the healthcare decontamination and the GI device businesses, will be integrated into Bracco Diagnostics, the Princeton, N.J.-based subsidiary of Bracco Imaging and part of the Bracco Group.

The Milan, Italy-based Bracco said that E-Z-EM contrast delivery, contrast data management and point of care testing system businesses will move to ACIST Medical Systems, also part of the Bracco Group. Bracco Diagnostics and ACIST have executed a co-marketing agreement to support the sales of E-Z-EM’s injection systems and the EZ Chem Blood Analyzer, the company said.

Diana Bracco, chairman and CEO of the Bracco Group, said that “Bracco’s acquisition of E-Z-EM comes shortly after the kick-off on January 1, 2008, of Bracco’s direct presence in some of the main European countries such as Germany, France and the Benelux, replacing the previous management through joint venture with Altana Pharma.”