GAMBRO: TO PURCHASE U.S. DIALYSIS CENTERS

      Gambro, a Swedish health care company, will buy Vivra, a
 California company that operates more than 262 dialysis centers
 in 28 states, for $1.6 billion, FINANCIAL TIMES reports.  Gambro,
 a manufacturer of components and pharmaceuticals for dialysis
 machinery, "already owns a chain of dialysis clinics in the
 U.S.," but the deal will more than double its current capacity to
 26,000 patients, making it the second-largest provider of
 dialysis services in the country.  FINANCIAL TIMES reports that
 the move is "unusual," as Gambro is purchasing a customer rather
 than a competitor.  Mikael Lilius, CEO of Incentive, Gambro's
 parent company, addressed concerns that the company may dictate
 its customers' needs on commercial rather than medical grounds,
 saying that "the patients' well-being took precedence, and less
 than half  Gambro's existing clinics used Gambro products"
 (Green/McIvor, 5/6).