Medline Industries
 Medline Industries logo | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Health Care |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Three Lakes Drive, , |
Key people |
|
| Products | Medical and surgical supplies |
| Revenue |  US$$21.2 billion (2022)[1] |
Number of employees | 36,000 (2023)[1] |
| Website | www |
Medline Industries, LP is an American private healthcare company headquartered in Northfield, Illinois. In June, 2021 it was acquired by a consortium of private equity firms Blackstone, Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman valuing the company at $34 billion in one of the largest leveraged buyouts of all time.[2][3] It is the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies providing products, education, clinical programs and services across the continuum of care with operations in over 125 countries and territories.[4]
In 2022, Medline had sales of $21.2 billion.[5] Medline is ranked at #15 on the Forbes 2022 list of largest privately held companies in America and employs over 35,000 people.[4][6]
History
[edit]In 1910, A.L. Mills established the Northwestern Garment Factory making aprons for stock yards.[7] In 1912, A.L. Mills established Mills Hospital Supplies Inc., making surgical gowns and nurses uniforms for hospitals.[7] In the 1920s, A.L.’s son, Irving, took over the business and began distributing general medical supplies in addition to the garments.[7] In 1961, Irving sold the company to Cenco. In 1966, A.L.’s grandsons Jim and Jon Mills left Cenco and founded Medline with approximately 12,000 square feet of warehouse space and one loading dock in Evanston, IL.[7] In 1968, Medline opened its first textile manufacturing facility in Covington, Ind. In 1972, Medline opened its first non-textile manufacturing division (Dynacor) with the purchase of an injection molding company.
In 1995, Medline opened its first facility for assembling Sterile Procedure Trays (SPT) in Waukegan, IL.[7] In 1996, Medline entered the distribution business. In 2001, Medline started manufacturing private label wound care products for CVS, Walgreens, Target, Dollar General and Family Dollar.
In April 2007, Medline acquired the Curad brand of first-aid products, from Beiersdorf, entering the retail market.[8][9][10] The Curad brand includes products such as bandages, surgical tape, and liquid bandage.[11]
In April 1994, Tyco Healthcare purchased the Kendall Company.[12] In 2007, Tyco Healthcare spun off Covidien.[12]
In 2009, Medline Launched Generation Pink exam gloves to help raise breast cancer awareness and turned the original Pink Glove Dance video into a viral breast cancer awareness campaign, reaching 14+ million people. In 2011, Medline introduced BioMask, the first-ever FDA-cleared antiviral medical facemask shown to inactivate flu viruses.
Today, Medline Industries, LP offers over 550,000 medical products and clinical solutions to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, physician offices, home care agencies and providers, and retailers. Its 35,000+ employees extend to over 125 countries and territories (such as USA, Canada, Mexico,[13] Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Australia and New Zealand) and include clinicians, researchers, engineers, financial experts and 2,000 direct sales representatives.[14] Medline operates over 50 distribution centers across North America.[2]
In June 2023, it announced Jim Boyle as its next CEO, effective Oct. 1, 2023.[15]
False Claims Act Suit
[edit]In October 2007, former employee, Sean Mason, filed a qui tam suit on behalf of the United States against Medline alleging the company the False Claims Act and the Illinois Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act by: 1) providing bribes and kickbacks to healthcare providers; 2) fraudulently inducing the Federal government to agree to improper tracking customers in procurement contracts and then giving below-government pricing to those tracking customers; and 3) overbilling the Federal government's mail-order pharmacy program.[16]
The complaint remained under seal pending a determination by the U.S. Government and the State of Illinois to intervene and proceed with the case. Both declined to do so.
After a court dismissed the first amended complaint, Mason filed a second amended complaint that focused on claims that Medline used a wide array of kickbacks and bribes to solicit business from healthcare providers. Mason claimed these kickbacks were falsely labeled as "rebates," and that Medline paid expensive gifts and made charitable donations to solicit business.
In 2011, Medline settled the case for $85 million, with Mason receiving $23.4 million.[17]
Labor relations
[edit]In over 50 years of doing business, Medline has had several charges filed against it with the National Labor Relations Board.[18] In late September 2015, Medline terminated a warehouse operator at its Shepherdsville, Kentucky, distribution facility. The terminated employee alleged that Medline terminated him due to his alleged protected labor organizing activities.[19][20] Medline settled with this employee for $15,000 on condition that the employee not return to work.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Murphy, Andrea (November 14, 2023). "America's Largest Private Companies". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Gottfried, Cara Lombardo and Miriam (2021-06-05). "WSJ News Exclusive | Private-Equity Group Reaches Deal to Buy Medline for Over $30 Billion". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
- ^ "Quick take: Medline set to join ranks of all-time largest leveraged financings". www.spglobal.com. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
- ^ a b "Medline Industries on the Forbes America's Best Employers List". Forbes.
- ^ "About Medline". Medline Newsroom. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
- ^ "Blackstone, Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman to Invest in Medline". 5 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Our History". medline.com.
- ^ "Medline Acquires First Aid Brand Curad". nursing.advanceweb.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-11.
- ^ "About Us". Curad Bandages Official Site. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Beiersdorf Annual Report 2007: Results of Operations – Business Segments". Archived from the original on 2012-07-01. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ Super Market Merchandising. Super Market Publishing Company. 1953.
- ^ a b "Covidien Medical Equipment". dremed.com. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Amplía Medline planta en Oradel".
- ^ "Our Company". Medline. August 3, 2016.
- ^ Staff, Medline Newsroom (2023-06-28). "Medline announces leadership transition naming new CEO and President & COO". Medline Newsroom. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ "Sean Mason, et al., v. Medline Industries, Inc., et al.,, No. 1:2007cv05615 - Document 120 (N.D. Ill. 2010)". February 18, 2010.
- ^ "Medline settles kickback case for $85 mln". Reuters. March 11, 2011.
- ^ "Search results". www.nlrb.gov. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ^ "NLRB-160614". www.nrlb.gov. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "NLRB-166472". www.nlrb.gov. Retrieved November 5, 2016.