Danaher Corp (DHR.N) has struck a deal to buy medical diagnostics company Beckman Coulter Inc (BEC.N) for $5.8 billion in cash, its biggest bet yet on the medical technology business. The deal, which would pit the combined company against 3M (MMM.N) and General Electric (GE.N), values Beckman at $83.50 a share. That's 11 percent more than its closing price on Friday and roughly 45 percent above the company's price in December before rumors of a takeover entered the marketplace. Beckman shares jumped 9.8 percent to $82.51 in morning trading, a bit below the offer price -- suggesting investors do not expect a higher bidder to emerge. Danaher was up 3.2 percent at $49.51 after rising to $50.29, a lifetime high.
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