Marietta, GA – April 29, 2016 – Amendia, Inc., a leading designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices used in spinal surgical procedures, today announced the completion of a significant transaction and partnership that positions Amendia for accelerated growth and an enhanced value proposition for current and future customers and partners. Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C. (“Kohlberg”), a leading private equity firm specializing in middle market investing, has acquired majority ownership of the Company and intends to support Amendia’s growth initiatives from its $1.6 billion private equity fund, Kohlberg Investors VII.
As part of the transaction, Amendia has expanded its senior management team to include several experienced executives, including three spine industry veterans: Chris Fair, who has joined Amendia as Chief Operating Officer and a member of its Board of Directors; Larry Boyd, PhD, who has joined Amendia as Executive Vice President, Research & Development; and Scott Bruder, MD, PhD, a Kohlberg strategic advisor who has joined Amendia’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
“We are thrilled with our new partners and the resources they bring to the Amendia organization,” stated Jeff Smith, Amendia founder & CEO. “Kohlberg & Company’s reputation of investment success along with a track record of fostering world-class operational performance makes them the ideal partner to help implement our plans for strategic growth. Chris Fair has been a trusted advisor to Amendia for many years, and together with Scott Bruder and Larry Boyd we are adding more than six decades of world-class spine industry experience to our management team. The Amendia team and I look forward to working closely with our new partners to take our company to new heights.”
“Amendia has carefully and steadily grown organically and through thoughtful M&A to become one of the premier growth companies offering a complete suite of products that meet the needs of surgeons and their patients,” commented Chris Fair, Amendia’s Chief Operating Officer, whose experience includes a decade at DePuy Spine, a Johnson & Johnson Company (NYSE: JNJ) and leading Sales & Marketing at St. Francis Medical prior to their acquisition by Kyphon (NYSE:MDT). “I am excited to be joining Jeff Smith, Tim Lusby and their team of professionals at Amendia, and I look forward to helping the company expand its footprint, add resources, and build value for all customers and partners.”
“The solid foundation already in place at Amendia is a distinguishing characteristic that gives this platform so much potential,” added Scott Bruder, MD, PhD, who previously served as Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of Stryker (NYSE:SYK), Chief Science and Technology Officer of BD (NYSE:BDX), and as a Worldwide Vice President at DePuy, alongside Chris Fair. “I’m very enthusiastic about helping to pave the way for success in the evolving landscape of spine care by providing clinically meaningful innovations that improve patient outcomes.”
Amendia, headquartered in Marietta, GA, operates from an integrated design and manufacturing facility, offering a full suite of products to address the deformity and degenerative market segments, as well as minimally invasive and biologic solutions to treat even the most challenging cases. The company markets and sells its products through direct sales employees, independent agencies, and distributor partners.
“We see tremendous growth opportunities for Amendia,” commented Chris Anderson, Partner of Kohlberg & Company. “Through its broad portfolio of innovative products and intellectual property, scalable operational infrastructure, and continued dedication to its mission to exceed surgeon and patient expectations, Amendia is uniquely positioned to serve the growing demands of the spinal surgery marketplace in the US and beyond.”
About Amendia
Headquartered in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Marietta, GA, Amendia is a leading designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices used in spinal surgical procedures. Amendia’s mission is to exceed surgeon and patient expectations by creating balanced solutions with disruptive technologies for medical devices paired with biologics and instrumentation. Amendia’s vertically-integrated strategy focuses on improving surgical outcomes and the lives of patients with spinal disorders. For more information, please visit www.amendia.com.
About Kohlberg & Company
Kohlberg & Company is a leading private equity firm headquartered in Mount Kisco, New York. Since its inception in 1987, Kohlberg has organized seven private equity funds, through which it has raised over $5 billion of committed equity capital. Over its 29-year history, Kohlberg has completed 66 platform investments and over 140 add-on acquisitions, with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $10 billion. For more information, please visit www.kohlberg.com.
Media contact: Nikki Coleman, VP-Marketing & Education Amendia, Inc. 770-575-5237 ncoleman@amendia.com
