Ticker: Private equity firms buy Medline for reported $34 billion; Royal Caribbean sets cruises

A consortium of private equity firms has reached a deal — reportedly worth about $34 billion — to acquire family-run Medline, the medical supply and equipment company announced.

The leveraged buyout’s value was reported by The Wall Street Journal, which said the acquiring firms — Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman LLC — had beat out a rival bid from Brookfield Asset Management, a Canadian investing firm.

Northfield, Ill.-based Medline is a major producer and distributor of everything from anesthesia to wheelchairs, beds and lab supplies used in hospitals and other health-care centers in more than 110 countries. It also sells consumer products including the Curad line.

Medline, with 28,000 employees worldwide, said it had revenue of $17.5 billion in 2020.

Royal Caribbean sets 2021 cruises in Florida, Texas, Alaska

Royal Caribbean International said that eight of its ships will resume U.S. voyages in July and August with trips leaving ports in Florida, Texas and Washington state.

The cruise line said all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19. Passengers 16 and older on cruises to Alaska will also be required to be vaccinated. The requirement will be expanded to cover Alaska-bound passengers 12 and over starting Aug. 1.

For other trips passing through U.S. water, Royal Caribbean said that passengers are “strongly recommended” to get vaccinated.

Royal Caribbean said that its first U.S. voyage since March 2020 will leave Miami on July 2 on the Freedom of the Seas.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2SfV13h