U.S.-based medical device maker Guidant says it is accepting a $27-billion takeover bid from rival Boston Scientific.
Wednesday's announcement appears to end a two-month bidding war for Guidant between Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson.
Guidant makes medical devices that can be implanted in patients' bodies, including defibrillators and pacemakers to help heart patients and "stents" used to open clogged arteries.
The deal still needs approval from government regulators and shareholders of both companies.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.