J&J to buy Synthes for $21.6 billion

 J&J will pay 159 Swiss francs in cash and stock for each Synthes share, the two companies said on Wednesday. The acquisition, which is likely to close in the first half of 2012, has the backing of both the Synthes and J&J boards and will give J&J a leading position in equipment to treat trauma.

Under the deal, each share of Synthes common stock will be exchanged for 55.65 francs in cash and 103.35 francs in J&J common stock, the groups said.

Synthes and J&J also said the transaction had an estimated net acquisition cost of $19.3 billion as of the close of business on April 26 based on Synthes approximately 119.5 million fully diluted shares outstanding and approximately $2 billion in cash on hand as of signing.