Summary Box: Danaher To Buy Beckman Coulter

THE DEAL: Medical and industrial instrument maker Danaher Corp. agreed Monday to buy Beckman Coulter Inc. for $5.87 billion, or $83.50 per share, more than doubling the revenue of Danaher's life sciences business.

AT LAST: Acquisition rumors have swirled around Beckman Coulter, which makes medical testing instruments, since December. Danaher is paying a premium of 45 percent to its Dec. 9 closing price.

THE CLOSING: The sale won't go through unless a majority of Beckman Coulter shareholders approve. If that happens, the companies believe the deal will close by the end of June.