"Year of The Buy" for medical device sector

Research suggests that 2014 will be remembered as the "Year of The Buy' in the medical device industry. Sluggish forecast growth of 3% may well have been responsible for aggressive competitive actions, including acquisitions of product lines and entrance by acquisition into new fields. 

Market research firm Kalorama conducts an annual survey of medical devices — The Global Market for Medical Devices. The report can be obtained here.

"Growth is restricted by reimbursement cuts in major world economies, so buying is a key play for major companies," said Bruce Carlson, Publisher of Kalorama Information.  "Purchases help them best competitors, turn struggle companies to Number Twos or Number Ones, and can allow companies in difficult segments to participate in new, profitable markets in a short time."

Key acquisitions in 2014 included:

Medtronic announced purchase of Ireland-based Covidien

Zimmer announced this year the acquisition of Biomet Inc.

Johnson & Johnson's Ortho Clinical unit acquired by the Carlyle Group.

Life Technologies acquired by Thermo Fisher.

Stryker Corporation acquisitions of   Berchtold Holding Patient Safety Technologies Inc. and MAKO. 

Becton Dickinson announced purchase of it would acquire CareFusion.

Kalorama Information's The Global Market for Medical Devices contains a complete breakdown of the market for medical devices by segment and geographic region.  The report lists acquisitions in 2013 and early 2014. It profiles key players in the industry and their products.