BUZZ-Zimmer Holdings Inc: Posts better-than-expected profit

** Orthopaedic device maker's shares up 4.6 pct at $104.8

** Reports better-than-expected Q3 adjusted profit, boosted by an increase in sales of its knee replacement devices

** Bernstein Research analyst Derrick Sung says he remains bullish on the stock based on the accretion and cost synergies expected from its pending merger with Biomet Inc

** Zimmer had said in April it would buy rival orthopedic products maker Biomet for more than $13 billion

** Company says transaction on track to close in Q1, two weeks after EU antitrust regulators extended their deadline to decide on the deal by three weeks to March 11

** Up to Wednesday's close, the stock had gained 7.5 pct this year