Saints Capital’s decision to pay $100 million for 54 companies from Boston Scientific Corp.’s corporate venture profile is an obvious outlier in size, scope, and circumstances. Boston Scientific, still suffering from indigestion after its 2005 acquisition of Guidant Corp.[See Deal], needed to shed its stakes in unwanted properties that didn’t fit its core cardiovascular and cardiac rhythm management businesses while also raising some capital to pay down its considerable debt. (See "Boston Scientific Shuffles and Sells in Bid to Right Ship," IN VIVO, December 2007 Also see "Boston Scientific Shuffles and Sells in Bid to Right Ship" - In Vivo, 1 December, 2007..) But, as venture capital investors struggle to find ways to exit their more mature device companies, Saints’ acquisition may be seen as a milestone event for medical device investors looking for alternative exits.
Kenneth B. Sawyer, managing director and founder of Saints, says he sees the day when secondary buyers are viewed as...







