Lincare Holdings, Inc.

Lincare Holdings Inc. is a leading provider of in-home respiratory care, infusion therapy, and medical equipment services. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, the company serves approximately 1.8 million patients across the United States through a network of over 700 locations in 49 states. The company's mission is to set the standard for excellence in home healthcare, enabling patients with chronic conditions to maintain their engagement in life with the assurance of high-quality care. Lincare's services encompass a wide range of therapies, including oxygen therapy, nebulizer treatments, sleep apnea management with CPAP devices, and ventilator support. The company also provides enteral and infusion therapies such as palliative care, hydration, chemotherapy, and nutritional support. In addition to therapeutic services, Lincare supplies durable medical equipment like hospital beds, wheelchairs, and walkers.

The origins of Lincare trace back to 1972 when its precursor, Linde Homecare Medical Systems, was established as a unit within Union Carbide Corporation's industrial gases division. Following financial challenges at Union Carbide, Lincare became an independent entity in 1990, led by founding CEO Jim Kelly. The company went public on the NASDAQ in 1992, raising $50 million to fuel its expansion strategy, which focused on acquiring smaller, fragmented home respiratory service providers. This strategy proved successful, and over the next two decades, Lincare grew into one of the largest respiratory therapy providers in the nation. In a significant development, The Linde Group, a global industrial gases and engineering company, acquired Lincare Holdings for $4.6 billion in 2012, bringing the company back into the broader Linde family. Today, Lincare continues to operate as a key subsidiary, committed to a patient-first approach that emphasizes education and strong relationships with patients, their families, and healthcare practitioners.