Valeant to buy ophthalmic surgical device maker Synergetics

(Reuters) - Canada's Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc agreed to buy surgical device maker Synergetics USA Inc , its eighth acquisition this year. Valent said on Wednesday it would commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Synergetics for $6.50 per share, a premium of 48 percent to Synergetics' Tuesday close on the Nasdaq. Shares of Synergetics, which makes surgical devices for ophthalmology and neurosurgery, were trading at $6.68 before the bell. At $6.50, the offer was worth about $166 million based on Synergetics' diluted outstanding shares as of April 30. The acquisition, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, is aimed at expanding the Bausch + Lomb's business, the company said. Valeant bought the company for $8.7 billion in 2013. The Synergetics offer comes less than two weeks after Valeant bought Sprout Pharmaceuticals, which makes a controversial new drug to treat low sexual desire in women, for about $1 billion. Synergetics shareholders will receive additional cash payments of up to $1 per share if certain sales milestones are reached after the transaction closes, Valeant said. (Reporting by Amrutha Gayathri in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)