440亿！2025全球最大医械IPO，从幕后走到台前

Core Viewpoint - Medline, a company that has long operated behind the scenes in the healthcare system, made headlines with its IPO on December 17, 2025, raising $6.26 billion (approximately 44 billion RMB), marking it as one of the largest public offerings globally that year. The company's stock surged 41% on its first day, reflecting a newfound recognition of its essential role in the healthcare supply chain [2][4][8]. Group 1: Company Overview - Medline is often labeled as a "medical supplies distributor," but its true value lies in its comprehensive supply chain solutions, which include manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and hospital support. The company offers over 330,000 products, including private label and third-party products, with a robust logistics system ensuring next-day delivery to most U.S. customers [4][5]. - The company's growth is not reliant on single innovations or policy changes, as it has maintained revenue growth across various economic cycles, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. This stability is appealing to capital markets, which favor understandable business models [5][8]. Group 2: Family Control and Development Path - Medline has been under family control since its founding in 1966 by Jon and Jim Mills, remaining 100% family-owned until 2021 when 79% of the shares were sold to a private equity consortium led by Blackstone, Carlyle, and Hellman & Friedman, valuing the company at over $30 billion [6][7]. - The Mills family retained about 21% of the shares before the IPO and expressed intentions to increase their holdings post-IPO, reflecting a consistent, low-profile operational style focused on growth and stability rather than aggressive market presence [7][15]. Group 3: IPO Insights - Medline's IPO is characterized as atypical, lacking the high-growth narrative common in recent medical device IPOs. The company had established stable profitability and clear cash flow structures prior to going public, with projected revenues of $25.5 billion in 2024 and nearly $1 billion in net profit for the first three quarters of 2025 [8][9]. - The management emphasized that the IPO would not alter the company's operational approach, focusing instead on reducing debt and enhancing financial flexibility rather than pursuing aggressive expansion [9][15]. Group 4: Tariff Considerations - Medline acknowledged the impact of tariffs, estimating a cost increase of approximately $325 million to $375 million for the fiscal year 2025, which would continue into 2026. The company has a diversified manufacturing and supply chain strategy, with over 30 production facilities globally, allowing for flexibility in response to policy and logistical challenges [12][13]. - The nature of Medline's products, which are low-cost, stable in demand, and easily substitutable, enables the company to absorb cost pressures through scale and pricing strategies, enhancing its resilience in uncertain environments [13]. Group 5: Market Context and Repricing - Medline's IPO occurred in a year marked by uncertainty in the U.S. IPO market, yet it was seen as a "bellwether transaction," indicating a shift in market preferences towards companies with established profitability and cash flow quality amidst rising uncertainty [14][16]. - The listing reflects a broader industry trend where the importance of supply chain and distribution capabilities is increasingly recognized as critical to overall efficiency in healthcare systems, moving beyond the focus on technological breakthroughs [16][18].