Johnson & Johnson to Close Synthes Deal Thursday

Johnson & Johnson will complete its $19.7 billion purchase of Synthes Thursday, more than 13 months after it agreed to buy the Swiss orthopedic device maker.

On Monday the New Brunswick, N.J., company agreed to sell a surgical system that treats serious wrist fractures in order to win Federal Trade Commission clearance for the deal. It also is selling its trauma business to satisfy European Union regulators.

Johnson & Johnson announced it would buy Synthes on April 27, 2011 in the largest deal of the health care giant's history.