Linden and Edgewater Acquire BarrierSafe Solutions International, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois (November 1, 2007) – Linden LLC, a private investment firm focused exclusively on the healthcare and life science industries, and The Edgewater Funds announced today that they have acquired BarrierSafe Solutions International, Inc. (“BSSI”), a leading provider of branded, disposable barrier protection and infection control products, from Riverside Partners and StoneCreek Capital
Headquartered in Reno, BSSI sells more than six billion gloves annually across 180 product families under two umbrella brands, FoodHandler® and Microflex®. By focusing on premium products, BSSI has built leading market shares in the foodservice, emergency medical services, automotive, dental, laboratory, and industrial markets. BSSI was created in 2004 through the merger of FoodHandler and Microflex, although the two businesses have histories of delivering quality products dating back to 1969 and 1987, respectively.
BSSI’s senior management team, which has over 100 years of experience within the industry, will retain an ownership stake in the company and continue to lead the organization. The team is headed by Chief Executive Officer Mike Mattos, who brings 25 years of experience including senior management roles at Safeskin and Kimberly Clark.
Mr. Mattos said, “BSSI has a leading portfolio of barrier products that enables us to deliver solutions for basic health and safety needs across a broad spectrum of customers. We look forward to working together with our new partners at Linden and Edgewater to further grow our business and expand our infection control, food service, and industrial safety platforms through continued organic growth as well as additional acquisitions.”
“Infection control represents an expanding and important opportunity at the junction of personal, public, and environmental health within the overall healthcare spectrum. While the incidence of pathogenic activity is increasing everywhere – from our hospitals to our food supply – simple measures, such as proper hand hygiene, have a pronounced effect,” said Eric Larson, a founder and Managing Partner of Linden. “This is exactly the type of investment that enables Linden to utilize its industry expertise, and we look forward to working with Mike and his team, as well as our partners at Edgewater, to extend the strategic reach of this business.” In keeping with Linden’s strategy of integrating operating and private equity expertise, Tony Kesman, a healthcare industry veteran and Linden Operating Partner, will serve as Chairman, and Brian Miller, a founding Linden Partner who led the investment, will join the Board along with Messrs. Larson and Kesman.
FirstLight Financial Corporation and CIT Healthcare LLC co-managed the senior debt and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.’s BBH Capital Partners III and Metropolitan Life provided the subordinated debt financing and an equity co-investment. Kirkland & Ellis provided legal advice to the buyers. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.