Allscripts buys rival Eclipsys in $1.35bn deal

US healthcare software company Allscripts said on Wednesday it had agreed to buy rival Eclipsys in a $1.35 billion all-share deal, to create a leader in electronic healthcare records. Eclipsys shareholders will receive 1.2 Allscripts shares for each of their shares, representing a 19 per cent premium on the closing price on Tuesday, the companies said in a statement.

The combined client base will include over 180,000 doctors, 1,500 hospitals and nearly 10,000 nursing homes, they said, adding they would be better positioned to access $30bn in federal funds for the adoption of electronic healthcare records. Sepaarately, Allscripts' majority owner, Britain's Misys, said it would reduce its 55 per cent stake in the firm to about 10 per cent, and return more than $1bn to shareholders. Misys said it would, in future, focus on its banking software business.