Blackstone, Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman to invest in Medline

Medline Industries, Inc., the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies with 2020 revenue of $17.5 billion, has entered into a definitive agreement through which it will receive a majority investment from a partnership comprised of funds managed by Blackstone, Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman.  Following the close of the transaction, Medline will remain a privately held, family-led company.

Medline will continue to be family-led by Chief Executive Officer Charlie Mills, President Andy Mills and Chief Operating Officer Jim Abrams, all of whom have held their positions since 1997. Additionally, the Mills family will remain the largest single shareholder. The entire senior management team will stay in place. The company plans to use the new resources from the partnership to expand its product offerings, accelerate international expansion and continue to make new infrastructure investments to strengthen its global supply chain.

“Making healthcare run better has been our focus for decades. This investment from some of the world’s most experienced and successful private investment firms will enable us to accelerate that strategy while preserving the family-led culture that is core to our success,” said Charlie Mills, Chief Executive Officer of Medline.

Medline partners with healthcare providers around the world, delivering products and solutions that reduce costs, increase supply chain efficiency, and improve the quality of care. The breadth of the company’s product portfolio and its dedication to customer service, responsiveness, and partnership provide significant value for its customers.

Joe Baratta, Global Head of Private Equity at Blackstone, said: “The Mills family has built an exceptional business, and we are proud to partner with them and Medline’s management to support the company’s continued strong growth. Large corporate partnerships with family-led companies are an area where we have deep experience and we look forward to investing in Medline’s further expansion.”

Steve Wise, Carlyle’s Global Head of Healthcare, said: “We are excited to partner with Medline’s impressive management team to accelerate growth through continued execution, innovation, and investment. With a deep commitment to sustainable value creation, we look forward to leveraging our combined operational capabilities, expansive healthcare network and capital to support organic and inorganic growth initiatives for the Company.”

Allen Thorpe, Partner at Hellman & Friedman said: “Medline is known for its unwavering commitment to its customers, providing high-quality medical products that are used to treat patients every day. We are excited to support that commitment and partner with Medline to continue bringing the broadest and deepest capabilities to the healthcare industry.”

GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, is also investing as part of the partnership.

Transaction Details

The investment is expected to be completed in late 2021 and is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as lead financial advisor, BDT & Company, LLC acted as financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz acted as legal advisor to Medline. BoA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan, Barclays, Morgan Stanley, and Centerview Partners are acting as financial advisors to Blackstone, Carlyle, and Hellman & Friedman. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal advisor to Blackstone, Carlyle, and Hellman & Friedman.

Learn how Medline makes healthcare run better.