Linden snags healthcare veteran

Linden LLC, a Chicago-based private investment firm that specialises in middle market leveraged buyouts in the healthcare and life sciences industries, has hired Anthony Kesman to join the firm as an operating partner, Linden said in a statement.

Anthony Kesman: healthcare vet at Linden LLC

Kesman has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, including in high performance distribution, medical device and provider operations, the statement said. He joins Linden from Allegiance Healthcare Corp, a subsidiary of Cardinal Health, a provider of healthcare products and services, including medication management products, medication solutions and pharmacy services, according to the company’s website. At Cardinal Health, Kesman was the president of the care continuum products and services group. Prior to that, he was the company’s corporate vice president of distribution.

Kesman’s arrival at Linden comes after the firm closed its debut fund at $200 million, the statement said. The fund’s commitments came from university endowments, foundations and fund of funds. The target for the fund was $150 million, the statement said.

Linden invests in leveraged buyouts. The firm targets the animal health, medical products and disposables, laboratory equipment and consumables, diagnostics and oral health services. It’s portfolio companies include Ranir, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based provider of consumer oral care products like toothbrushes, floss and tooth whiteners, and Suture Express, a Lenexa, Kansas-based distributor of suture products.

After the fund’s $150 million second close in June, Linden bought Deerfield, Illinois-based Focused Health Solutions, a provider of disease management services, for an undisclosed amount.