A Medical Device Daily

Luminex (Austin, Texas) reported closing its acquisition of Tm Bioscience (Toronto).

Each Tm common share will be exchanged for each 0.06 share of Luminex common stock. With transaction completion, Tm shareholders will own about 9% of Luminex outstanding common stock. The transaction was approved by Tm shareholders and optionholders at a special meeting on Feb. 23, and the deal has met all required approvals and conditions.

The per-share consideration represents a 41.5% premium for Tm shares, based on the closing price of a share of Tm common stock and Luminex common stock on Dec. 14, the last trading day prior to announcement of the acquisition.

“With Tm’s cGMP-capable manufacturing, proprietary molecular detection chemistries, assay development expertise and a strong menu of kits and reagents, and the complementary assets and strengths of Luminex’s partner-based business model, we intend to work closely with our business partners that have relevant distribution channels or complementary products to leverage this new business to the mutual benefit of Luminex and our partners,” said Patrick Balthrop, president/CEO of Luminex.

Luminex develops biological testing technologies. Tm has developed a suite of DNA-based tests for genetic disorders, drug metabolism and infectious diseases.

Alliance HealthCard (AHC; Norcross, Georgia) said it has completed its merger with Benefit Marketing Solutions (BMS; Louisville, Kentucky), making it one of the largest marketers of discount medical services in the country, it said. Combined, the companies will serve more than 1.5 million consumers in 50 states.

BMS, founded in 2002, says it sells services similar to those of AHC and has more than a half-million members that will convert to AHC’s delivery system of networks, fulfillment, and member services.

Existing management for the two firms will remain in place, and Danny Wright, CEO of BMS, will become CEO for the combined companies. Brett Wimberley, COO of BMS, and Susan Matthews, executive VP of BMS, will remain with the merged organization.

Alliance is a medical provider organization (DMPO) providing discounted pharmacy, medical, dental, hospital, vision and other health services through a half million-provider locations across the country.

In other dealmaking: home health nursing company Amedisys (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) reported the acquisition of a home care and hospice business providing services in the greater San Antonio area. Terms were not disclosed.

The transaction was effective March 1 and is expected to contribute about $5.4 million in total annual revenues.

“The acquisition of OptimaCare Home Health, Inc. will be our 16th home health location in Texas, and MissionPlus Healthcare LLC will mark our first hospice location in the state,” said William Borne, CEO of Amedisys.

Amedisys said the acquisition is not expected to add materially to its 2007 earnings in 2007.