J&J acquires Mentor

Johnson & Johnson acquires aesthetic medical product manufacturer Mentor Corporation for $1.07 bil., according to Dec. 1 announcement. Mentor makes Nia 24 Skin Care, a line that relies on niacin to strengthen the skin's barrier function and thereby improve skin's tone and texture; the products are sold through doctors' offices. The firm also offers breast implants, as well as liposuction and body contouring technology. Under the terms of the deal, J&J will initiate a cash tender offer to purchase 34.6 mil. outstanding shares of the company for $31 per share. Mentor will operate as a stand-alone business unit reporting through Ethicon, a J&J company that makes suture and mesh products. "The addition of Mentor, a market-leader and one of the most respected companies in the aesthetic space, expands our capacity to provide physicians with products that can restore patients' appearance, self-esteem and quality of life," Alex Gorsky, company group chairman for J&J who oversees the ETHICON business, says in a statement