Medical device company Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. is looking into a possible sale of its dental products unit, with private equity firms among the potential suitors, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources.
The dental unit saw a decline in sales to $418.6 million in 2017 from $427.9 million in 2016 due to the restructuring of its dental organization in certain European markets, Zimmer Biomet said in its 10-K filing.
Indiana-based Zimmer Biomet also noted in the filing that its dental implant business competes with Danaher Corp.'s unit Nobel Biocare Holding AG, Straumann Holding AG and Dentsply Sirona Inc.
The dental products division manufactures and sells dental reconstructive implants, dental prosthetic products and dental regenerative products directly to dental practices, dental laboratories and independent stocking distributors.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch has been retained by Zimmer Biomet to advise it on a potential sale of the dental products unit, the Journal reported citing "people familiar with the process."
