Baxter International, a global healthcare company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Gambro, a privately held dialysis product company based in Lund, Sweden, for total consideration of approximately $4 billion.

The acquisition gives Baxter a comprehensive dialysis product portfolio, complements Baxter's global home dialysis offerings and positions the company to better meet the evolving needs of the large and growing dialysis market.

''Baxter has a legacy of innovation in dialysis, including the development of peritoneal dialysis for the treatment of end-stage kidney disease patients in the home. This acquisition further strengthens our global dialysis offerings by extending our portfolio in the hemodialysis segment,'' said Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., chairman and CEO of Baxter. ''This transaction will provide attractive returns and enhance Baxter's sales and earnings growth over the company's current long-range financial plan.''

Gambro is a global provider of dialysis products and technologies used in hemodialysis (HD) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), with annual sales of approximately $1.6 billion in 2011. Its portfolio in the traditional chronic care segment consists of HD devices including advanced monitors, dialyzers, bloodlines, cyclers and dialysis solutions. Gambro's in-center HD devices include the Artis system and the AK 96 system. In the acute care segment, which includes CRRT and treatment for fluid overload, among others, Gambro offers the Prismaflex system used for the treatment of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury.

''Both companies have a longstanding heritage in kidney care with innovative technologies and a dedication to saving, sustaining and improving the lives of patients worldwide,'' said Guido Oelkers, president and CEO of Gambro. ''This acquisition responds to the needs of the nephrology community, healthcare providers and patients seeking a comprehensive dialysis offering of proven products and therapies.''

The transaction will provide a number of long-term growth opportunities for Baxter around the world. With a broad and complementary dialysis product portfolio, Baxter can accelerate product sales in established markets such as Europe, where Gambro has an extensive footprint. Baxter can also expand Gambro's reach in high-growth regions of Latin America and Asia-Pacific, where Baxter has steadily grown its peritoneal dialysis (PD) business. In addition, Baxter will build upon its pipeline of investigational home HD and automated PD systems by adding Gambro's next-generation monitors, dialyzers, devices and dialysis solutions.

Excluding special items, the company expects this transaction to be dilutive to adjusted earnings per diluted share by $0.10 to $0.15 in 2013 and neutral to modestly accretive to adjusted earnings per diluted share in 2014.

The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in the first half of 2013.