Medtech-Private Equity Reunion Private equity has noticeably been absent in the medtech sector ov

Medtech-Private Equity Reunion

Private equity has noticeably been absent in the medtech sector over the last few years, but it returned in a big way this past summer with the $6 billion buyout of advanced wound care specialist Kinetic Concepts Inc. (KCI) by Apax Partners LLP and two Canadian pension funds. The deal, one of the largest leveraged buyouts since Lehman Brothers imploded three years ago, drew interest from several large players in the private equity arena, including Nordic Capital and Avista Capital Partners, co-owners of Kinetic rival ConvaTec. The Skillman, N.J.-based wound therapy manufacturer reportedly made an 11th-hour bid for KCI shortly before the expiration of a “shopping” window on the Apex deal. Private equity firms also apparently courted AstraZeneca, Beckman Coulter Inc. and Synthes Inc., giving the medtech industry hope that private investment may truly be here to stay.