BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union antitrust regulators will decide by July 9 whether to clear U.S. orthopedic products maker Zimmer Holdings Inc's (N:ZMH) $13.4 billion (8 billion pounds) bid for Biomet Inc [LVBHAB.UL], one of several recent takeovers in the pharmaceutical industry.
The deal will push Zimmer up to the No. 2 spot behind Johnson & Johnson
Zimmer sought EU clearance on June 3, the European Commission's website showed on Wednesday. The EU competition watchdog can either clear the deal, demand concessions or open a lengthy investigation if there are regulatory concerns.
Zimmer expects to close the deal in the first quarter of 2015.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Erica Billingham)