Boston Scientific has been exploring the acquisition of cardiovascular device maker Shockwave Medical, Bloomberg reported on Friday. Talks are ongoing, and there’s no certainty they will result in a transaction, according to the article, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Santa Clara, Calif.-based Shockwave Medical makes a device that uses sound pressure waves to break up calcium deposits in coronary arteries and expand vessels before a stent is implanted. Buying the company could give Boston Scientific a high-growth asset that complements its existing interventional cardiology and coronary stent portfolios, J.P. Morgan analyst Robbie Marcus wrote in a research note. But the operational and integration risks compared to the financial benefits make it harder to justify the deal, he added.
If Boston Scientific did buy Shockwave Medical, it would be the company’s largest acquisition in its recent history, BTIG analyst Marie Thibault wrote in a comment on Friday. Noting that Boston Scientific has about $1.1 billion in cash and equivalents, and $8.9 billion in debt, “we think BSX would likely need to use equity to fund this acquisition,” she added.
Shockwave has a market capitalization of $10.5 billion, while Boston Scientific’s market capitalization is $73.4 billion.
The transaction could face opposition from antitrust regulators given Boston Scientific’s current portfolio of rotational atherectomy systems, Thibault wrote.
Boston Scientific declined to comment on the report, and Shockwave Medical did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Shares in Shockwave rose more than 10%, or $27.04, to $286.94 shortly before the market closed Friday. Boston Scientific shares fell 3.1%, or $1.63, to $50.99.
